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    Lapaba

    4.0 (96 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Lapaba

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    K meatballs with milk bread
    Grace F.

    Came here for a girls' dinner on a Friday evening and managed to snag a 5:30pm reservation (reservations seem to go pretty quickly here). The space is beautiful inside, with lots of natural light and an elegant, modern atmosphere. I started with the Jeju Mule (soju, matcha, ginger). I was looking for something not too sweet, and it was refreshing, but honestly it didn't taste or feel like there was much alcohol in it. I'd probably just get a non-alcoholic drink next time. The food, however, was excellent. Burrata Con Crema (satsuma sweet potato, sweet soy, chili crisp) - 9/10 This was such a good combination of flavors and textures. The sweetness from the sweet potato paired perfectly with the savory soy and chili crisp. One of those dishes that immediately makes you want to recreate it at home. K Meatballs (bulgogi meatballs, milk bread, truffle tomato sauce) - 9/10 These were fantastic meatballs. Super tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. I didn't get a ton of bulgogi flavor specifically, but they were delicious regardless. The milk bread was fluffy and warm, and perfect for soaking up the tomato sauce. Seasonal Salad (spring peas, charred green garlic, Meyer lemon, peanuts) - 9/10 A simple but really well-executed salad. The peas were fresh and sweet, the lemon added brightness, and the peanuts brought great crunch and nuttiness. Radiatore & Galbi Jim (short rib ragu, shiitake, red wine) - 8.5/10 I had never seen this pasta shape before, and it was perfect for holding onto the rich short rib ragu. The short rib was incredibly tender and flavorful. A great dish overall. Agnolotti & Cheesy Corn (smoked scamorza, brown butter, thyme) - 9.5/10 My favorite dish of the night. I love cheesy corn at KBBQ, and this felt like a creative, elevated version transformed into a pasta. The sweetness of the corn, gooey cheese, and brown butter thyme sauce worked so well together. I'd come back just for this. The only thing that held the experience back a bit was the service. We arrived around 5:45pm, and the host immediately informed us that another reservation was coming in at 7:15pm and that we'd need to be finished by then. Later, she came back and said they were able to seat that party elsewhere, so we didn't actually need to rush after all. I understand they're busy and trying to manage reservations, especially since we arrived 15 minutes after our reservation time (which is still within their grace period), but the whole interaction felt a little awkward and could have been communicated more gracefully. What made it stranger was that all of our starters came out quickly, but there was a long wait before the pastas arrived. So if we had ended up needing more time at the table, it wasn't really because we were lingering. I wasn't sure if there was a kitchen delay or an order mix-up, but it definitely stood out. There were also a couple small service moments that felt off. At one point, plates were cleared while there was still some bread and salad left on them, and no one asked if we were finished first. Nothing major, but enough that I noticed. I wouldn't call the service bad, but more disconnected than anything. Maybe it was just an especially busy night or an off day. The food itself was absolutely worth the visit, though, and I'd happily come back to try more of the menu. If you're into Korean-Italian fusion and creative takes on familiar flavors in an elegant setting, Lapaba is definitely worth checking out!

    Calamarata and kimchi
    Mary H.

    Super underwhelmed despite having had high hopes for this spot. We arrived for our 6:15 reservation on a Friday a tad early but were able to be seated when we arrived at 6. Most of the seating is high top seating at the bar but it's a fun ambience. We were encouraged to order 3 appetizers and 3 pastas for 2 people. They claim the pastas are about 75% the size of a "normal" pasta dish so that you can try more. We opted for the chicken lollipops, k meatballs, and seasonal salad for the apps, and chose 2 pastas - the calamarata & kimchi, and the tonnarelli & lobster. We figured we could order more if desired. The appetizers came out altogether and quite quickly, which was nice. Sadly though, nothing really felt special. The food was also somewhat lukewarm. Nothing tasted inherently bad, I just never had that moment of "yummy!" Onto the pastas. The two pastas arrived nearly at the same time as one another. I enjoyed the texture of both pastas. But again, flavor and temperature were disappointing. We left somewhat full, not stuffed. We were originally going to order dessert but decided to skip and go down the street for cheaper (and likely better) instead. The food was underwhelming, and this coupled with the tiny portions made this a disappointment, especially at the price point. Service and vibe were the main redeeming qualities. We won't be returning but happy to check it off our lists.

    Yumi S.

    We had 3 different pasta's along with sides and salad. I'm a huge pasta person and I thought that the pesto one was too leafy. Everything else was very good.

    Christina A.

    I had such high expectations and I was so disappointed. I don't like big portions but the portions here were tiny! And the pasta wasn't as good. I took a friend and spent $160 including tip and came out hungry. Also it was so hard to make reservations on open table but the restaurant was half empty. But it is a cute restaurant with mainly bar seating. It is a nice place to meet up for drinks, small plates and dessert. The dessert was really good. But I definitely wouldn't be back for dinner. There is valet behind the building but you have to walk around.

    Garganelli
    Ron W.

    At the edge of an edgy hood sits Lapaba taking up the whole corner. Drop the key fob off with the Valet for only $12 and duck inside. Two Hostees will check you out, check you in and confirm your reservation. The space is Euro-minimal, sleek and slick. The decor is as lean an #9 Spaghetti and as modern as Tokyo Central Train Station. White Subway tiles and brass accents, a snake-y marble bar contouring the curvy space, two four tops and a wide open kitchen that anchors the room. That's it. Speaking of the kitchen, this crew is all brass, bold and confident. The game plan is a serious mash up of Korean flavors, condiments, and spices layered over, around, and on House Made Pasta. The Chefs cut their teeth (and Tonnarelli) at Osteria Mozza. A dedicated Pasta Room sports a large window with a dangle of Pasta making implements worthy of Marcella Hazon's kitchen. Chef McKenna and Chef Matthew know their way around noodles and are making Nancy Silverton proud (and wealthier). A squadron of Black Shirted Line/Prep Cooks keep the water at a rolling boil and the K-Sauces at a simmer. A loop of BTS, Stray Kids and Twice fuel the energy without eclipsing diner's table chat. The vibe is pleasant and a good mix. Settle in and have a cocktail or two. It's Wine, Beer and Soju here but that leaves plenty of room to be playful and creative. They can mix up some fine signature drinks with just Matcha, Soju and Yuzo. You know, all the stuff you have laying around your pantry or haven't seen since your kid moved most of it to his locker at school. I decided to keep it simple. A Soju Yuzo Sour was all of that plus a splash of Simple Syrup to balance the acidity. Served short it was just what I (anybody) needed. The Staff: Ready, willing and helpful to interpret the menu and or nudge you in the right direction for dinner choices. Manny introduced himself. "I'm here to give you the spiel". "Spiel on", I replied and he did. Manny needed no urging. He promptly rolled out 15 minutes of A-material and K-Schtick while peppering his set with recommendations which were all spot on. The concept here is "family style". That could mean Grandma's tried and true comfort dishes or a full flat out food fight including a hail of dinner dishes depending on family dynamics. Here it's all civilized with the emphasis on shared plates of great food. Manny watched carefully during my dinner and timely coursed out a wonderful meal. First out were house special K-Meatballs. The kitchen showed some brass balls with this opening move. Delicious Bulgogi mixed with a little Milk Bread "Golf Balls" with a hint of Truffle and a sledge hammer of perfect Hot House Tomatoes reduced to a lovely thick sauce and ladled over my tender balls. (So to speak). Fried Chicken made an appearance. Half a dozen little Drumette Lollipops brushed with a sticky Sweet-ish Chili (Calabrian) Sauce. Enjoy them with the cup of Pickled Daikon Cubes and dip in the Yuzo Ranch. However, the Chicken was tasty but the skin quickly lost it's crisp-osity. I am used to Fried K-Chicken crackling crunchy enough to require replacing a few fillings or at least days of flossing. The Tteobokki (Rice Cakes) are usually chewy tubes. Not there. These little bite sized bits under a mantle of fresh grated Old and Young Pecorino Cheese (Cacio e Pepe style) were as soft as pillows or your Momma's Gnocchi. These should be offered by the bucket. The Little Gem Salad was a gem indeed. Stacked Leaves drizzled with Doenjang (a thick savory Soybean Paste similar to Miso) and several tablespoons of crisp Gim (Seaweed) standing in for Croutons and all topped with Shaved Parmesan Cheese. Lovely. The Garganelli & Pesto was made with Perilla, (from the Mint family), the freshest Sugar Snap Peas and Toasted Pine Nuts. This was re-imagined Pesto as fresh as an entitled Gen Z'er. The Bucatini Amatriciana had Roasted Guanciale lardons withut a speck of any fat. A deep rich dark long simmered Bean Sauce stood in for Crushed Tomatoes. Finally, a dusting of more Parmesan Cheese made this the most memorable dish I enjoyed at my memorable meal here. The Orrecchiete with House Made Fennel Sausage was poached from Osteria Mozza and every bit as good as the version you'll find there. A hat tip to Nancy Silverton. Finally, the Tonnarelli with Lobsta chunks took center stage. Mixed with Chili, Ginger and Lobsta Jus this dish was nothing short of terrific. Lapaba...come to Papa!

    agnolotti & cheesy corn
    Olivia L.

    The fusion I didn't know I needed - Korean x Italian flavors just work so well together. The meal exceeded all expectations. - Burrata con crema: a strong start to our meal. I'm not a sweet potato person but I enjoyed my 2 small bites very much (the dish was tiny lol) - K meatballs: bulgogi meatballs, tasty and moist, loved the milk bread that came with it - Charred broccolini: pleasantly surprised by the bold flavor if this seemingly simple dish - Cacio e pepe rice cakes: this just makes so much sense! i'm so surprised i never thought of making this myself - Agnolotti & cheesy corn: it's obvious that corn agnolotti is having a moment in the food scene. this is a very nice iteration of the dish. - Bucatini & amatriciano: think jjajangmyun with guanciale. our faveeeee dish of the whole meal. Still thinking about it - Radiatore & galbi jjim: a very familiar flavor of short rib pasta, nothing too special. could've skipped this. *all of the dishes are in smaller portions We loved our server, impeccable service by Jeff. Truly a pasta bar, most of the seatings are at the bar top (great for date nights) with 2 high tops in the corner for larger groups. Disappointments: We ran a few minutes over the grace period, dm'ed on ig because there was no phone number to call, still couldn't get a hold of the restaurant so when we got there, our table was already given away and we had to get on the waitlist (1.5 hours wait). Please have a working phone or a reliable way for patrons to contact the restaurant. I wish the wine glasses weren't stemless glasses.

    Radiatore & galbi jjim
    Arthur E.

    Fancy pasta bar vibes in Ktown. Went for a weekend dinner. They have valet (though I ubered to not deal with the parking situation). Had reservations and was seated at the bar right away. It wasn't crowded but almost every seat was taken. Drink-wise, there's beer, wine, soju and soju cocktails, and makgeolli. Food-wise - there's some appetizers, salads, and pastas. You order about 2-3 dishes per person and share. Ended up ordering a bottle of makgeolli, burrata con créma, little gem caesar, garganelli & pesto, radiatore & galbi jjim, and agnolotti & cheesy corn. Got our makgeolli, along the burrata and salad pretty quickly. The makgeolli was pretty good - more on the lighter (both flavor and texture) which made it pretty easy to drink. The burrata was neat with the sweet potato situation, but was a bit overpowered by the sauce. The caesar salad was good and had great texture with the tiny croutons. The pastas came out shortly after our dishes were done and replaced. The garganelli was cooked well but think the pesto was a little too light. The radiatore was great - meaty, hearty flavors without weighing you down. The agnolotti was also pretty good - good texture and flavor. For dessert, we ended up with the tiramisu-garu and pavlova. The tiramisu was really cold - almost gave ice cream cake vibes. The flavor had a bit of brisk ice tea to it (in a good way). The pavlova was fruity and light - pretty good as well. Overall - was a good time and good food. One caveat is that all the kimchi dishes do have shrimp in it - so if you are allergic, you'll have to avoid them. I may switch out a few dishes if I came around again (probably the burrata and garganelli) but wouldn't mind coming back!

    Sarah M.

    Went to celebrate a birthday! Great ambiance and service for a place in koreatown but my expectations may have been too high for the food. The portions are smaller, but I prefered it as we were able to order lots of things and try a little bit of each. We ordered- Kimchi suppli - didnt love this as much, it would've been better with more cheese inside Fried chicken - this was pretty good! Cacio e pepe rice cake - would not order again, lacked the flavor I was expecting Radiatore&galbi Jjim - this was good, tasted like a ragu pasta I've tried somewhere else Agnolotto&cheese corn- this was definitely my favorite! I'd go back just for the agnolotto! Tiramisu - it was a bit too soggy for me, probably wouldn't order next time.

    Hamachi crudo
    Michael G.

    Cool concept and a great date night spot or to meet up with a group. We came on a Sunday night with a reservation. Majority of seating is at their bar area, with a few tables that could fit parties of 3-4. Everything was great and totally shareable. Between the 2 of us we tried: - market salad - hamachi crudo - kimchi suppli - k meatballs w/ milk bread - radiatore + galbi jjim - agnolotti + cheesy corn - orecchiette + sausage - pavlova (must try) My standout bites were the k meatballs, radiatore and pavlova. The meatballs and radiatore were familiar Italian flavors and just a rich flavor overall. The pavlova is a new dessert item and it was the perfect balance of freshness, sweet, and nuttiness from the black sesame. My only critique is the agnolotti was a bit too buttery for my liking and I was hoping for more cheesy flavors. I also wish the corn was incorporated into the sauce more. Great flavors and textures though. Cant wait to come back and try other items such as the fried chicken, burrata, and cacio e pepe rice cakes.

    Orchiette and sausage
    Brandon S.

    Came on a friday night before rush hour with a reservation and was promptly seated at the bar, which takes up essentially the entire restaurant. (Hence name la pasta bar) I ordered k meatballs, chicken wings, agnolotti cheesy corn, radiatore, and orecchiette with sausage, and a tiramisu-garu. The k meatballs and chicken wings were really tasty starters. The k meatballs tasted like your typical bugolgi but with the texture and spices of italian meatballs. The chicken wings were cooked nicely and the sweet spicy sauce reminded me of korean fried chicken. The pastas were very much on the smaller side. The agnolotti cheesy corn was very very cheesy with hints of corn here and there depending on how much corn I picked up with the spoon. The orecchiette and sauage was on the saltier side but good texture. The radiatore was very delicious with a nice strong meaty ragu. I stuffed the ragu inside of the radiatore and it was a mini flavor bomb. Tiramisu-garu tasted like how it sounds. A mix of tiramisu and misugaru. Overall, decent food and better than what I was expecting. I was told the owners were the same as norikaya next door, which was horrendously bad and overhyped for handrolls. Luckily, this spot is actually worth visiting. Service was exceptional. If you were picking between lapaba and norikaya, skip norikaya and come here.

    Burrata over sweet potatoes.
    Jeremy J.

    I really wanted to love this place but unfortunately I left feeling something to be desired. Mostly more food. I don't really enjoy when a server tells you how to order, especially when their recommendation is to order to share. And then the plates to share are smaller than what should be enough for one person at the same price point as a normal sized dish. I guess I would feel differently if the food was amazing but everything was kind of underwhelming. At least for me. The only positives for me were the service was fast and friendly, and the decor was nice. Other than that, I can't justify giving this place my money and leaving hungry. Sorry, Nancy.

    Corn agnolotto
    Jude K.

    Interior is 10/10. Definitely pro-level design. Valet or street parking available. Mule: Solid and refreshing. Wine: Minimal list, but every bottle is a banger. Broccolini: Ssamjang sauce is a game changer. Super tasty. Crudo: Mid flavors with a clean cucumber finish. Pasta Breakdown: Galbijim Ragu: Very solid. Kimchi Calamarata: Sauce was a bit too aggressive. Corn Agnolotto: A little too sweet for me. THE MVP: K-Meatball & Bread. Literally melts in your mouth. Best dish of the night. Service: Good! Bottom Line: Go for the aesthetics, stay for the meatballs.

    Jessica G.

    This place has intrigued me long way before they even opened their door, then in the early opening days it's just too busy to even get a reservation especially as I was aiming for weekend. I finally gave up and picked a weekday dinner. Finding street parking would also test your luck certainly. The venue setting was interesting with one long marble-top counter table so you could tell small-size group would be more ideal. Thankfully the menu was quite brief so at least eased the decision making. Most of the were meant for sharing so you could try multiple dishes, but portion wise it's more on the smaller side. We got their Fried Chicken as starter, served with Calabrian Chili and somewhat reminded me of Thai Chili Sauce. It was good and I loved the idea of refreshing yuzu ranch dipping, making it distinctive but I would say the chicken itself was moderately good. The radiatore was cooked al dente and the wine flavor stood strong in the sauce. Generously served short rib ragu was lovely, but I got it when people said to not expect it to remind you of signature Korean flavor, which I certainly didn't mind knowing it's fusion anyway!

    K meatballs

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Lapaba

    Do you need reservations for party of 6?

    Recommend to reserve for all party sizes, especially larger parties like 6 since seating is mostly bar and limited.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    A DREAM shop. Unassuming, piccolino mio--but don't be fooled. Behind that modest exterior lies a…read morewonderland of the most delightful, high-quality ingredients, specialty goods, and handmade fresh pasta sold by the pound like it's no big deal. And a personal breakthrough: I used to schlep all the way to Larchmont Cheese & Wine or Bay Cities before beach days for a proper sandwich. Not anymore. I have sandwich geniuses living right down the street. The bread? Exceptional. The cheeses? Dangerous. The meats? I may never recover. And then there's the lemon Italian ice. My daughter and I have been here three times in the last week, shamelessly returning like two neighborhood raccoons with excellent taste. It is the perfect antidote to a scorching Altadena afternoon. This place is an absolute gem. Go for the pasta, stay for the sandwich, leave with three things you didn't know you needed and a strong desire to become Italian.

    The sandwiches were awful. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea but they're overpriced and taste major…read moremeh. Service was great and the girl at the counter was lovely but the price of everything was way too steep and it didn't deliver at all. We ordered the mortadella and the artichoke. We didn't even finish our sandwiches. Ended up going to a different restaurant for food.

    Photos
    Inside, ordering counter
    Inside, ordering counter
    Prosciutto - one of the best ! Perfect! Delish!
    Prosciutto - one of the best ! Perfect! Delish!
    Tuna sandwich

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    Tuna sandwich
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    This was one of those places I knew nothing about, discovered randomly when looking for places to…read moreeat nearby, took one look at, and said to myself that I definitely needed to try it. Dropped by on a Saturday evening with my brother, no reservation. I was worried we'd be stuck waiting for an hour or more for a table but we were seated in less than ten minutes, despite the fact that it was a full house. The menu has an interesting assortment of traditional Italian pastas, Japanese classics, and Japanese-Italian fusion dishes. It's not a huge menu, but is just the right size to have a number of dishes I wish I could've tried all at once. I went with the bacon and mushrooms Japanese style sauce, which was a dashi and soy sauce base with bacon and mushrooms and a garnish of grated radish and nori. This was incredibly delicious, unique, and a true blend of Japanese and Italian flavors. The bacon was phenomenal and there was a generous amount on the plate. My brother got the arrabbiata. He asked them to not make it very spicy, but it still had a good kick (I definitely wouldn't have asked for it to be milder, but to each their own). The flavors were rich. And in both dishes, the pasta was cooked perfectly. Dinner comes with a complimentary salad and rolls. Our food came out fast, and our server was friendly. The owners were really nice, welcoming people. I loved the vibe of this place, with its dim lighting and quiet, laidback atmosphere. PASTA e PASTA is a gem and absolutely on my must-return-to list on my next trip to Little Tokyo.

    This is my second time dining here and each experience gets worse. The pastas are decent I do wish…read morethey had different options of noodles and for the price it isn't bad but what led to the two star rating is the service!!! It was not busy at all we got at right away and there was empty tables but our server could not remember a single request we asked for . We asked for Parmesan, the check along with Togo boxes on separate occasions (which I think are quite normal requests to ask for ) he forgot all of them and we had to ask his co-worker. At the end of the meal he apologized for forgetting the items and asked if we wanted a Togo bag for our meals which as you guessed he forgot again. I'm sorry but the restaurant was at like 20% capacity. Also they messed up on part of our order. All and all we will not be returning again Also the gratin we ordered was very hard to eat.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

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    Pasta e Pasta by Allegro

    Pasta e Pasta by Allegro

    4.5
    (448 reviews)
    19.0 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Wheelchair accessible

    Pasta e Pasta is one of my favorite Japanese Italian spots. The interior is super cute and I love…read morethe wine display in the restaurant. I also appreciate that every table comes with olive oil and vinegar. We ordered the mentai cream pasta and the uni pasta. The mentai pasta was packed with umami and the pasta itself was cooked perfectly al dente. The nori and mushrooms paired really well with the sauce as well. The uni pasta was just as good. The sauce was rich and creamy and the uni on top was fresh and buttery. The meal also comes with complimentary bread and salad. The salad was light and refreshing which helped balance out the richness of the pasta. The bread was simple but great for dipping in olive oil and vinegar. The service is always friendly and efficient. If you're a fan of Japanese Italian fusion, this place is definitely worth a visit. I honestly have nothing bad to say and can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

    Pasta was mid, prices reflect what most pasta dishes with seafood cost these days…read more The bread they serve at the start was soft and made for great soaking up of the sauces from the pastas. Pastas were oilier than expected. Tight seating; they really packed as many tables in. It was loud and hard to have a conversation unless you were yelling. They seem popular... that being said, I'd rather pick up uni from one of the Japanese markets or Maruhide and make my own.

    Photos
    Pasta e Pasta by Allegro
    Pasta e Pasta by Allegro
    Shrimp and Spinach

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    Shrimp and Spinach
    Maccheroni Republic

    Maccheroni Republic

    4.4
    (4.6k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Maccheroni Republic - Life is full of pasta-bilities!…read more So if you know anything about me, you know that I love pasta more than just about anything. While I can only officially claim about 12% Italian heritage, I'm 100% down for Italian food, especially homemade pasta, any day of the week. I'm spending this week in Little Tokyo for a conference, and while Japanese food is also absolutely my jam, when Maccheroni Republic slid into my Yelp feed, I knew that I had to hoof it over there immediately after we broke for the day. I saw the front of the building, and my heart sank because it looked closed, but then I noted the sign that indicated that the entrance is on the right side of the building through the courtyard. Thank goodness! I strutted through the courtyard, and observed about 15 people waiting for tables. Unbothered, I went up to the host stand and chatted with the stylish maitre'd - Dino - who indicated that he could have a table for me in 7-10 minutes. I proceeded to wait and I watched how he deftly sat the other waiting parties in order without difficulty or notes. To the untrained eye, it might have looked a little chaotic, but Dino absolutely knew what he was doing. About 15 minutes later, Dino sat me at a corner deuce in the inside dining room where I had a nice view of everything. Angel efficiently took my order and did a very good job of overseeing my table as well as about nine others. The dining room is so cute and homey, and the patio is a welcome respite from the bustle and business of downtown. Since I was "da sola" or on my own, I just tried the shrimp cakes and I ordered the Rigatoni all Norma which is one of of my go to pasta dishes since I don't eat much meat. Incidentally, this dish is named after Norma, the famous 19th-century opera composed by Catanese native Vincenzo Bellini. According to legend, a famous Sicilian playwright, Nino Martoglio, tried the pasta and was so overwhelmed by its perfection that he exclaimed, "Chista è 'na vera Norma!" ("This is a true Norma!"), comparing the culinary masterpiece to the musical one. So says Wikipedia anyway. The shrimp cakes were delivered quickly by a sweet food runner who kindly checked on me periodically during my dinner. The four shrimp cakes were accompanied by sauteed onions which paired really nicely with the crispy cakes that were brightened with a spritz from the fresh lemon wedge. She also brought a basket with four slices of Italian bread which I enjoyed with the EVOO and Balsamic that were on the table. My Watermelon Ciao was also so good. It was sweetly tart and such a nice treat on a Monday! Not long after I polished off the shrimp cakes, the rigatoni was delivered and dusted with a generous layer of parmigiana. The little fresh mozzarella pearls glistened on the top of the pasta and slowly melted and oozed into the sauce as I stirred it up. Yum! The rigatoni were al dente and delicious, and they were perfectly sauced. Of course, the eggplant was perfectly cooked as well, I only wish there had been a few more pieces of it - although by the time I ate the last noodle, I was so full! Alas, I had no room for dessert, but I intend to bring some of my conference colleagues back for a meal before the end of the week because it was THAT GOOD. I also loved that this place is NOT pretentious at all. There were all sorts of folks enjoying their food here from medical professionals in scrubs to college kids in shorts and t-shirts, and I was also very casually attired, but I was treated well and welcomed with graciousness and delicious food! Mille grazie Maccheroni Republic, Dino, Angel and everyone at this wonderfully lowkey yet fabulous trattoria.

    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.

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

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    Scallops with squid ink risotto

    Lapaba - italian - Updated July 2026

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