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

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

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

I made a reservation for a Saturday night with friends for the counter seating. The first thing we…read moreordered was the spicy pomodoro and I liked it a lot! It was very creamy yet light and had such a good flavor. The second thing we got was the carbonara. We thought that the carbonara was good but was a little bit on the salty side. The workers were very attentive and the service was quick. Parking here is valet but there are residential streets with parking if you get lucky!

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

Third time here and the food is always so good! Parking is valet for $15 with limited street…read moreparking but the surrounding area is not the best. I came with a girl friend and we ordered the bone marrow appetizer, squid ink pasta and sopressata pizza for two people. The server said it wouldn't be enough food and recommended adding another dish so we added the octopus/calamari. They ended up forgetting to bring out the bone marrow by the time we were almost done eating so we just cancelled it...we were full and only ate half the pizza and pasta. 3 dishes was definitely enough for 2 girls and we were a little sad we didn't get the bone marrow which is one of our favorites. Should've just stuck to our original order... I got the Semi-Charmed Life cocktail with mezcal and really enjoyed it! The octopus and calamari was very flavorful and tender. The squid ink pasta was soo flavorful and my favorite thing, I would get it again! The pizza was good but nothing special. I'd try a different one next time, or just get another pasta instead.

We were on the neighborhood by chance. walked in without a reservation since it was late afternoon…read more Got a great table. A very relaxed atmosphere and the wine "cellar" looks amazing. Servers are top notch, professional and attentive. All food recommendations were delicious. Will definitely come back again

This spot is one of our favorites! The food is delicious, the ambiance is wonderful, and the staff…read moreis truly top-notch. Every time we arrive, the servers and bussers remember us and greet us right away. That warm welcome makes every visit feel special. Our favorites include the oxtail ragù, baby beet salad, and pesto burrata. But the homemade panna cotta? That's the one thing we refuse to share--we each need our own!

Incredible place just gorgeous treehouse setting, stringed lights everywhere. Such a cool vibe. It…read morewas hopping and we were seated a little late. Manager had two appetizers and a dessert brought on the house! So thoughtful and much appreciated. Madeline was the sweetest friendliest server. She busted her butt to make sure we were happy. Food was incredible- from the lamb hummus to the chicken schnitzel. Also the broccoli and sprouts were delicious. Overall this is an A++

Maggie made our Sunday girls brunch experience so fun! Will be coming back just for herread more

I can't believe that there is such a nice little Japanese style pasta place like this in little…read moreTokyo. Situated in Honda Plaza, just across the street from the typical village. This restaurant is definitely a treat for anyone who want to try the Japanese style pasta. I had Japanese style pasta back in Japan before. And this little restaurant tastes exactly the same (if not better!!) We tried the uni pasta, mentai cream pasta and a tomato based pasta. All delicious. You cannot choose your own pasta style and cooking tenderness though. Portion is big and they come with salad and bread too. Price is reasonable. And our servers was super nice and make us felt so welcome all the time!

i'm a big fan of pasta and asian flavors, and this might be one of my favorite places in LA…read more i've been here twice now, and each time i've come right at 5pm. it's been the most seamless experience, but i've seen how the small space can get filled up quickly. i have to give props to the staff for being so attentive and efficient. the dimly lit and intimate ambience here makes you feel like you're at an italian restaurant. you even get a small salad and dinner roll with butter to start. i was impressed already -- the bread was warm and soft, and the salad dressing was surprisingly addicting. it had a tanginess that felt light and refreshing. then come the pastas, and the portions are bigger than you'd expect. three dishes are plenty for a family of four to share and experience each flavor. the mentai cream pasta is my favorite, and as someone who loves creamy and almost-sweet flavors, i'll pick it every time. the only complaint my family had was that all the pastas used the same spaghetti noodle, which does take away the opportunity for each dish to stand out on its own. the fuller you get, the more the pastas start to blend in taste -- but still to me a delicious, unable-to-stop-eating taste nonetheless.

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

An amazing time! Tomaurea was an exceptional host. Pizza was also amazing !I really enjoyed the…read moreservice and he was very on top of it.

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

I would say the food is about a 6/10 but the service is a 10/10. The food is a bit too salty and it…read moreseemed like a common note across multiple neighboring tables. The highlight was definitely the Fusili ala vodka pasta, though we asked for well-cooked rather than al dente and it was still pretty al dente. There is ample street parking in and around the place but it is in a bit of a sketchy area, so be careful. The garlic bread is made of sourdough and it comes with a lot of cheese, which makes it even more sour. The tomato risotto is a 4/10 - it just tasted like cheese and the broccolini is a 6/10 - its pretty unflavorful and uncooked. We ended the night with a shot of limoncello and that was the perfect palette cleanser.

I went with my sons recently and there was a different vibe…read more Couldn't get seated in the courtyard but got a spot near the front door. They had a dj this time which made it a little loud for conversations. They had a fun drink and bite special which was good. The pizza was disappointing. The crust was soggy and advertised toppings were noticeably sparce. It may have been on off night. ‍

My go to place! Have been coming here for years…read more Arturo is the best bartender ever. Visit him at the bar, be will make the most amazing drinks you ever had! Definitely get the pizza and the pasta! You can't go wrong with any of the food here. Absolutely such a phenomenal place, such a cute vibe!

What a fantastic night at Mother Wolf!…read more The food was incredible. We ordered the squash blossoms, Cacio e Pepe, Pizza Rossa, and Spaghetti all'Arrabbiata. Everything was delicious, but the Arrabbiata stole the show. Absolutely spectacular. And don't overlook the kale salad. It sounds simple, but it's anything but. The desserts were wonderful too. As good as the food was, the service might have been even better. From the bartenders and servers to the management, everyone was genuinely warm, friendly, and attentive. What I particularly appreciated was how relaxed and welcoming the staff made the whole experience. No attitude, no pretension, just really lovely people who clearly enjoy what they do. We sat in the bar area rather than the main dining room, and I loved it. It was lively and fun, with plenty going on around us. If you prefer a quieter, more intimate dinner, there are some beautiful, cozy booths toward the back of the restaurant. The cocktails were excellent, the food was outstanding, and the staff made an already great dinner even better. We will absolutely be back! Sorry I didn't take any photos. You know you're having a good time when you're not even reaching for your phone.

Hollywood, Los Angeles Roman Italian · California Forks Given: (4.30 / 5.0)…read more Mother Wolf might be the best Italian restaurant in LA that doesn't have Evan Funke's name over the door. Which is funny, because it's his too. Not everything lands (sorry, prawns), but the hit rate is high. Highlights from the table: Fiori di Zucca: crispy, cheesy, the best squash blossoms in LA. Not one of the best. The best. Diavola: my favorite pizza on the menu and one of the best Neapolitan pizzas in town Cacio e Pepe: al dente, creamy, cheesy, peppery, perfectly balanced Tagliata di Manzo: the ribeye cap that keeps us guessing came through. Lean, salty crust, really good Gamberi in Salsa Verde: fine, but the sauce lacked punch. Not in the same conversation as the prawns at Bavel Panna Cotta di Coco: tart, sweet, great textures. Not Funke's desserts, but very good Burro Fuso: the brown butter came through loud and clear. The date... not so much Bestia fans, this room is more spacious, more grand and a bit quieter. Order the squash blossoms, the cacio e pepe and the Diavola, and save room for dessert. Full review with photos and our score breakdown: https://www.forksgiven.com/2026/10/03/mother-wolf-hollywood-review/ Follow me on Instagram @wegiveforks