From beginning to end, this place was everything I expected and more. The service was great, and our host gave us some fantastic wine suggestions that paired perfectly with the food. The place itself was decorated amazingly! ​I've always said that the first thing that eats are the eyes, my eyes are what guide me to wonderful places. If it looks delicious, it must be delicious, and Companion does not fail. ​The Little Caesar: Hands down the best Caesar salad I have ever had in my whole life. The cheese, the texture, the dressing, and the crunch of those croutons, it was beyond delightful and excellent in every way. ​Radiatore All'Arrabbiata: The pasta was cooked perfectly, and that sauce was just beyond delicious. It wasn't too spicy; it was just right. ​Vodka Chicken Cutlet: Just... wow. The chicken was so good, and the vodka sauce was the perfect finish. ​Cannoli: We had to get dessert, and it was so good. Not too sweet, and such a great way to pair off the end of the meal. ​If you're looking for a spot that actually delivers on how good it looks, this is the one. read more

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We just went for the first time. The place is cute. The food is ok. But something at the end really rattled me. They treated me like a lawbreaker! They play vinyl records. The albums are all stacked throughout the restaurant. After we paid the bill (I left a 22% tip), I heard a song from my childhood. I saw the album cover on the shelf, so I went over to read the liner notes. I picked up the cover, looked at it for 20 seconds, then put it back. A moment later, the waiter returned and barked at me! He said the manager was upset with me, and I must NEVER touch the records again! What the hell? I'm not a child with gummy fingers. I'm 60 years old, and I know how to hold a piece of cardboard in a plastic sleeve. Getting yelled at was very strange. It suddenly made things awkward, and our group quickly ran out. Ugh. What a sour finish! We won't be returning. Judging from many other reviews, this place has a real attitude problem. Good riddance! read more

we came to do a late birthday celebration. it's really cute ambience with modern styling and an open kitchen area. i'd rec getting a reservation. it's a small restaurant and it wasn't long after we arrived that they filled up. by the end of our dinner, the whole restaurant was filled and there wasn't much circulating air. bc of that the air felt warm and stagnant. all the dishes we tried were tasty! and I think there were still a couple dishes that I was intrigued to try still. caesar salad - great flavor. super rich and umami dressing - maybe even a little too much dressing. loved that they have whole anchovy fillets, I don't normally see that. but despite its use, it was not overwhelmingly fishy. risotto - i'm not typically a fan of risotto and while this was flavorful, I still can't get on the risotto train. the sauce was very creamy and the corn and mushroom was a delightful texture combo. pepperoni pizza - thin crust! the undercarriage was nicely charred and has a very good crunch. the pickled peperoncinos very good to cut the richness but I wish it was spicier. rigatoni bolognese - I think if the noodles were cooked 15s longer it would've been perfect. I didn't order this and I was expecting a red sauce pasta but it was still tasty. the pork and beef delicious not dry but something bright like fennel or another herb would've added to it. vodka chicken - the vodka sauce was rich and actually a little sweet. a little sweetness is ok, but without additional heat or acidity, it felt a little too much. the chicken was juicy but the fry was oily. read more

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This place was so cute! I loved the ambience it was very cozy and intimate. The white wine was delicious. The food was all sooo good. The Caesar was perfect balance of citrusy. The pizza was one of the best pizzas I've had in a long time. The pasta was delicious I loved the shape it was fun to eat. The vodka cutlet was great I kinda wish it had less sauce though or if it was a regular marinara as I am not the biggest fan of vodka sauce. The sauce used for the pasta would have been perfect on it! The only things we didn't like was the fig butter and the dessert. The focaccia itself was amazing but the butter was underwhelming I wish it was regular butter instead. We got the chocolate chip cookie with ice cream and the cookie was burnt and the ice cream didn't have the most flavor. The service was good. I would for suuure come back for the food and ambience though! read more

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We went here with my husband and my 4 year old for an early 5pm dinner. The service, food, and ambience was exceptional. Food: Bread so delicious to start and served with good quality butter Crispy Rice Salad was fresh and light, definetely recommend! Margarita pizza was so good, and felt like authentic italian pizza do not skip on it. Service: Excellent service and staff; our waiter kept checking on us, and made sure to give our little guy his pasta first, which is a lifesaver with kids. Definitely recommend going if you want California Italian cusuine! read more

Companion - Crispy Rice Salad - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Sophia our server was 10/10! loved her every single thing we ordered was spot on. and the vibe was lively fun and music filled. will def be back! read more

This restaurant is very nice, the food was so good! I really enjoyed both the wine & the food that we got. Definitely a place I'd want to come back again. read more

Companion - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I visited Companion on a Friday morning to try their coffee. Plenty of seats around 8am. Music choice was strange, but not too loud. They source pastries and breakfast burritos from Cafe Tropical. Nice. Coffee was good - I got a latte with the orange syrup. It was very light and added a nice subtle flavor. Not sure if they have WiFi, but there were a good amount of people working on laptops. Street parking wasn't hard to find. read more

Companion - Latte and cappuccino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Companion is a nice, quiet spot. I loved the overall vibe of the restaurant. Great place for a date night. My friend and I went to celebrate our birthdays. I had seen the Caesar salad on Tik Tok and knew we had to try it! Companion had a small but great wine list for wine by the glass. I believe there was an ever bigger wine list for by the bottle. Overall, the food was really amazing. The Caesar salad was delicious. I recommend this! We split a pizza and a pasta. I really liked both but I think if I went back, I would he the pasta over the pizza for myself. Or try a different pizza. The olive oil cake for dessert was a great way to top off the dinner. read more

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Came here about a month ago and haven't stopped thinking about the vodka chicken cutlet ever since read more

Companion - Vodka chicken cutlet - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Yummy food! My favorite was definitely the Rigatoni Bolognese. The crispy rice salad was also unique and I liked the texture of the rice with the arugula. We also got the Olivia Pizza. Never had a pizza with thai basil and enoki mushrooms before. It's good & worth trying, but definitely feel like I would like The Klaus better! They also had meatballs with burrata as an off menu item that I really enjoyed. The staff is friendly and helpful. The place is a little small, but still comfortable. It was easy to book a reservation online. It's mainly street parking, but there is a neighborhood near the restaurant where you can park. Overall, I would recommend this place! The interior is warm & charming. read more

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My favorite dining experience this year. Companion delivered on every level. Incredible food, warm service, and a vibrant atmosphere buzzing with energy. Even with a packed house, everything felt seamless. I loved chatting with the manager about wine. They have a really interesting list and they let me try multiple wines before making my selection. Super nice & knowledgeable. Great vibe- like a trendy New York spot but with a warm, laid-back Venice feel read more

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First impression- corner place with big beautiful windows Parking- the little lot behind this place is reserved; don't go in there bc it is a bit hard to get out of. If you drive down that street you can find some neighborhood parking but do expect to parallel park Food- Sausage pizza- Honestly, it's been months since I came here and I compare every Italian pizza to this place! It ruined a ton of other places for me but that's great because you can truly taste and appreciate the quality here! The ingredients taste wonderful and you just don't want to stop eating; the bottom of this pizza was wonderfully crisp. Service- Our waiter was very attentive and had great conversational skills. It didn't feel overwhelming at all but rather just enough! What's wonderful is the music in the background and watching the dough being made in the back was fun Overall- I can't wait to go back and I highly recommend this place! I haven't been during lunch time but I am looking forward to coming back read more

Companion - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The vibe is so great inside, I loved the decor. It's vibey and clean. I celebrated my 25TH birthday here and was very satisfied!! The staff was so nice and the service was great. The food is AMAZING, I definitely recommend it. The owners' dog sat next to us too which was a fun addition! read more

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I have been to companion for dinner twice and a few times for coffee. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about my experiences here. What a vibey and warm ambiance they have created. I love the small menu concept because everything I've tried is 10/10. Best caesar in LA! Servers, hostesses & owners are so sweet. Coffee and espresso is amazing too. read more

Companion - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This cute little restaurant has been on my list and finally make it out for a visit. Italian staples with a huge wine list. My friend and I came for dinner and opted for their Crispy Rice Salad, Chicken Cutlet, and Mushroom Pizza (special for the day). Salad: Very citrus forward and a bit over-dressed but very tasty with tangerines and guava. Feels perfect for this season Chicken Cutlet: The star of the meal; crispy but not burnt; not too much breading, great sauce that was savory but had sweet notes; so good Mushroom Pizza: White sauce with mushroom and bits of what tasted like candied bacon (or some other cured meat); liked the play with the sweetness from the bacon and still a good pizza with a good pizza dough, can be skipped Service was on point and they were very hospitable. Would recommend a visit and to leave some room for dessert, which we mistakenly didn't. read more

I went to companion for my birthday and had the best time. The music was incredible and the vodka chicken cutlet was insane. Couldn't recommend it more. read more

Companion is one of those spots that feels like a true neighborhood gem. Super intimate, low key, and effortlessly cool. The kind of place you go once and immediately want to come back to. Definitely go for happy hour. $12 wine and a $7 focaccia that is dangerously good and the perfect way to start the night. The food is where Companion really shines. Everything we had felt very authentic Italian, simple in the best way, and full of flavor. The pizza was delicious. Perfectly cooked, balanced, and exactly what you want when you are craving real Italian pizza. My husband ordered the vodka chicken cutlet and absolutely loved it. Comforting, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. If you are looking for a cozy Venice spot with great food, great vibes, and a happy hour that actually delivers, Companion is it. We will definitely be back. read more

Companion - Ambiance - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great little spot! The pasta and pizza we ordered were both delicious. We ordered at the tail end of happy hour too which is $12 for all glasses of wine and $4 off the focaccia (delicious, btw). Highly attentive staff. Would recommend! read more

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One of the best dining experiences I've had in Los Angeles. The vibe is incredible--vinyl records everywhere, great music playing throughout dinner, and an atmosphere that feels intimate, energetic, and effortlessly cool. It's the kind of place where you want to linger over every course. The white ragù was hands down the best I've ever had. Rich, perfectly balanced, and packed with flavor without being heavy. Every bite was outstanding. The Caesar salad was also exceptional--simple, fresh, and executed perfectly. Between the music, the ambiance, and the food, this is the type of restaurant you can't wait to return to. If you're looking for amazing pasta, great energy, and a memorable night out, this place absolutely delivers. 10/10. read more

I'm glad we made a reservation because it was definitely packed in there. We walked in and our waitress Sophia was super friendly. She explained the menu to us and was very present throughout our dinner. Honestly I don't remember the names of the food we ordered but they were all delicious. The most memorable was the radiatore arrabbiata; the burrata blended well with the spicy red sauce and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I love the vibe of the restaurant and would 100% come back. I definitely want to come check out what their menu during the day looks like. read more

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Focaccia bread- 3.5/5 Salad- 3.5 Olivia pizza-2/5 Pasta-2/5 Cookie- 4/5 Red wine-5/5 Everything came out super cold. Nothing was even warm or hot. We spent about $158 + tip. Parking is tough since it's Venice, so try to look in the neighborhood streets. Our waitress was sweet but the host wasn't "welcoming"... Overall it's a one time try or just skip overall. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night in late October. It was around 7:30 pm when we came, and we didn't have a reservation, so at first there was no space except at a small outside table. Luckily a space opened up at the counter inside, so we took that instead. The menu here isn't huge, but they have a mix of pastas, a couple of pizza options, and some protein mains and appetizers. We didn't order much when we dined here, and decided to share just the chicken parm and the spicy vodka pasta. Both of these were very good. They were both simple and comforting classic dishes that were filled us up. Service was friendly and efficient. We'll definitely be back and are glad to have this addition in Venice. read more

Companion - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Mixed feelings here! Great food, subpar service, price point doesn't match atmosphere! Caesar salad : 4/5 Bolognese:4/5 but $40 is crazy yes larger portion but still insane for a bolognese pasta that you eat on a sidewalk or at a shared table! Vodka chicken Parmesan : 4/5 really good but would just prefer a traditional sauce. Was fried to perfection but again $46 for a piece of chicken is crazy Cookie with ice cream : 4/5 awesome but cookie was a little over cooked in my Opinion Service was lacking. Took 10 minutes for anyone to come to our table to even offer us water. Manager walked by twice and chose to check on the flowers instead. Server asked us for water preference still or sparking but never said the still was a fee. Should have also offered the tap option. Came back to ask how the dessert was and we hadn't even received it yet! Overall great food but wouldn't go back just for the price or the service! Good to try once if you're into the LA food scene but as a ocean park local I'd rather go to Uovo for my Pasta craving at a fraction of the price! read more

Always here to support a women run business! Companion has been on my list for awhile, the spots a bit on the pricier side but I do think once you look past the pricing, you'll really enjoy the meal and ambiance of this spot. Came with a girlfriend and we ordered the Caesar salad, the pasta with white sauce (forgot the name) and the bread cake. the Caesar salad was one of the best ive had and for the price you get a LOT lol. Had leftovers for the next day which was amazing. The pasta was delicious just on the pricier side so I probably would try something else next time. Dessert was a perfect ending to the meal. Music was great, place was busy, and everyone was so nice. 100% coming back to try a few of the other items on the menu. read more

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This place is a vibe with loud music and a chill aesthetic. Tables are close together but not where conversations are overpowering each other Service was wonderful! Hostess was super friendly--you're seated when everyone arrives. The server was great. Checked in enough to fill wine glasses but not too much to feel rushed Salads are massive and piled high! Caesar was good. The Arrabbiata was my fav, had a kick. The Klaus was decent Chicken Parm was okay, but nothing special. Lacking salt. Decent wine list! The door stays open so dress accordingly! read more

Companion - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Have been wanting to try Companion for a while and had been hesitant due to the small menu, but it totally exceeded expectations. Everything we got was faultless, delicious fresh ingredients packed full of flavour and generous portions. The vibe is great, relaxed but had a 'mood' with great lightning. We started with the beans which were incredible, so flavourful, creamy, not dry whatsoever. Both salads the Caesar (incredible dressing) and the crispy rice (such an unusual combination of flavours and textures) - all must gets. Torn between the pastas we ended up doubling up on the amatriciana and rigatoni - no regrets, both incredible. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta generous sauce and meat in the bolognaise, delicious! The sausage pizza I liked, a little crisper than I prefer and would like more cheese. Then the chicken parm - wow! Great serving, perfect for sharing, juicy and crispy at the same time with juicy cheesy tomatoey sauce, big yes! Finally for dessert the cookie and ice cream, decent, not my favourite. All in all a wonderful experience with great wine and all round quality dishes, well done! read more

We have been here for breakfast. It's casual in the mornings you order at the counter. We got the breakfast burrito and coffee, burrito was good and their coffee was fantastic! read more

Companion - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great food, great service, great ambiance, and great wine. Such a special place and a great menu. read more

Companion is an elegant yet welcoming spot where you'll find a limited menu (at least during lunch) done very well. Went on a Saturday for lunch and there was plenty of seating. Their menu was written on the glass by the register where there was a selection of 3 sandwiches for around $17-21. The chicken parm is highly recommended- moist, well cooked chicken with a hearty sauce and delicious cheese (wish there were a bit more). Bread was top notch as well and complemented the chicken well. Espresso had good rich flavor. Appreciate that they also accompanied it with a glass of sparking water. Service was nice and helpful. Street parking if you can find it read more

Thank you Tessa !! Love the vibes and music . don't miss their pasta and great salads . Affordable and friendly people. We enjoyed it !! read more

I've been wanting to go here for ages and finally got a reservation. The vibes are great - cute cafe vibes with loud music and cozy benches. The menu is small, but well done; we loved the caesar salad, the patata e porro pizza with potatoes and leeks, the focaccia, and the arrabbiata pasta. The dishes are pricey, but pretty big portions, so sharing is definitely the way to go. read more

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Wonderful service, delicious food, and amazing wine!! Companion is truly a hidden gem. The interior is very cozy and homey - it almost feels like you're dining at a friend's house. The servers know their stuff and provided us with spot on recommendations based on our party size and preferences. My favorite dishes were the Clam Pizza and Arrabiata. We also had a bottle of wine from Georgia that was divine! Will definitely be back. read more

First time visiting this restaurant. My friend and I had the best time. The food was AMAZING! and the wine selection was also great. Our server was Lala and she went above and beyond making sure our first experience was amazing. A fantastic server and rare to find in this city. read more

Trendy LA: overpriced pasta, chicken parm, caesar salad drowned in cheese mediocre service, didn't want to close the door until 8pm -- freezing cold Cento Pasta, Gjelina, Donna's, Funke, Macherroni Republic reign supreme read more

You know when you're at your desk fresh back from your Europe trip, your mind is sifting through an excel spreadsheet, but your heart & soul are daydreaming about that one meal you had in that small family run restaurant where everything is handmade and locally sourced? Well, Companion brings a slice of that stateside. I read that article Eater LA did on this place, and knew when I was back in LA it had to be my first stop. My girlfriend, my big homie, and I entered and were immediately transported from the parking lot that is Lincoln blvd to a small family run restaurant in the Tuscan countryside: Natural light trickles in, subtly dancing off the wine glasses and glowing the rustic wooden furniture, while a vinyl record faintly plays in the background. It makes you feel like you are in someone's living room. Nick and Dakota, the husband and wife owners who double as servers, both came and greeted us like lifelong friends. They gotta be up there for cutest couples of all time. The menu consists of 6 items, 3 pizzas, and 3 dessert options. I'm a SUCKER for a small menu, as you know everything will be fresh and they can actually drill down on the attention to detail. Right as I was set to order a glass of wine, I heard my big homie quote the Drake line "Wine by the glass? Your man a cheapskate, huh?" as he asked Nick for a bottle list. Nick comes back with a handwritten wine menu, and begins pitching us on this bottle of Caleb Leisure wine that they only had 6 more bottles of. I don't know wine like that but I nodded along and threw in a "No way...Fr?" to act like I'm a Sommelier. As we sat there vibing over the bottle of Caleb, we put in our food: Panzanella, Radiatore Arrabbiata, Rigatoni Bolognese, Chicken Milanese, and a Klaus pizza. Nick, draped in a war torn Bob Marley shirt and a white apron, would come every 20 minutes to change the vinyl and describe the record he was about to spin. There is so much passion in this man it's tough to articulate in the written form. The food started to roll in, and my god. Everything is made from scratch and it SHOWS. I normally highlight one dish, but everything was so good I can't even narrow it down. You know what, I do gotta talk about this pizza though. It was perfect. It kept its shape and hang time even with Italian Sausage and a bed of Arugula on top. Hangtime was oddly reminiscent of that Steph Curry jumper over Wemby in the 2024 Olympics... I asked Nick how they even do this, and he informed me it is "Jack Style" pizza, in a nod to Chef Jack Goode, who runs the show here. It's a blending Neapolitan dough with New York-style touches and a New Haven structure, which results in NO flop on the crust. Gun to my head on picking between the Radiatore and Bolognese pastas, I'd be dead. Both were that good. For dessert we got the Olive Oil Cake and affogato, both of which blew the doors off. My only critique would be that I love pouring my espresso over the ice cream for my affogato, but that's just a personal preference. I left here so inspired. Seeing Nick and Dakota living their dream while delivering one of the best meals I've had this year makes me want to beat the Matrix more than ever. One thing we lost with putting convenience at the forefront of American culture are these types of places. Pure Soul. THANK YOU COMPANION TEAM! KEEP GOING! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews read more

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Cafe by day, wine/pasta bar by night. Full house on a Friday night so definitely make a resy! However, even though we had a reservation they were so busy that we ended up having to wait 40 minutes outside for a seat. Squash pizza was a very unique menu item so we had to try it; every bite was an explosion of flavors from sweet squash to savory garlic to kicks of hot oil. Love that it was thin crust too. Bolognese was equally as excellent, al dente, and you can taste quality in the ingredients. Everything on the menu is made from scratch! Street parking only which can be tricky. Overall worth a try for a very yummy meal. read more

We had a reservation for 8:30 PM and when we arrived, the staff were confused and reluctant to seat us. When we had come in and informed them of our res, the woman went "really???" In a tone where we felt unwelcomed. We stood around the entrance for at least 7-10 minutes while we watched them point at us and discuss among themselves. We were nearly about to leave until a staff member agreed to seat us. It was such an awkward experience, they were folding chairs and putting tables away. we felt rushed to order and eat. But, our waitress was very kind and served our wine nicely. We also enjoyed the focaccia bread and pepperoni pizza. Overall, it was somewhat unsettling, I think we'd rather gone someplace else to enjoy our time. It seems that they close their kitchen 30 minutes before their posted close time. Which is strange that they'd accept reservations so late then. read more

Had a 7pm res. Left at 7:26pm - wasn't going to be seated anytime soon. Others were served wine while waiting. No one offered us anything

Hearing that Companion was founded by the same people behind Gnarwhal coffee and knowing that I love Gnarwhal certainly intrigued me to soon give it a go. They served pastries, sandwiches, and coffee from morning to early afternoon then closed their door for a couple hours before opened again for dinner. The cozy and gorgeously designed space occupied a spot on Lincoln. It gave me that pretty library/bookstore vibe and somehow just felt so homey. I actually came for the pastries but everything's sold out when I was there around 1, so sandwich it was. I was apparently tad lucky that I got the last available Porchetta Shoulder sandwich. NGL, the price was more on the higher range, but the generous stuffing and taste fully paid it off. The porchetta was so tender and flavorful, and pairing it to raspberry sauce was genius idea. I really loved how this sandwich felt light and refreshing withi lighter touch of sauce, letting the protein flavor stood out. Then obviously the coffee was a must, so I went for their latte with almond milk. Gnarwhal coffee never failed me and so did this one, bold and aromatic, just perfect wakeup call for the day. Learnt my lesson and promised myself to come earlier next time. Besides, really looking forward to spending dinner here as well! read more

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