saw that this spot was popular in west LA and decided to make a res for sunday dinner. found street parking across the street just fine but saw that they also offer valet parking for $5 during dinner time the food was pretty good. we ordered the caesar salad, calamari, spaghetti al cognac, and linguine ai frutti di mare. I enjoyed everything but the seafood pasta which was very salty and the mussel I had tasted funky (like poop)... but my bf had no complaints about the others. I'm mainly giving such a bad review for the service (or should I say lack thereof). like some of the other poor reviews I read, I had a very unwelcoming experience especially from one of the owners. they clearly are fond of their regulars and the place was filled with all white customers excluding us - that should have been my first sign to leave. although it was not crowded at all when we came and we had a res, it took a while for the owner to seat us. he was about to walk right past us at first. he let us know he'd come back to tell us the specials but after about 10 mins, another waiter came to take our order. the waiter was nice to us but it seemed like he was purposely ignoring us. people who came and ordered after us got their food before us and we were barely checked on (which is usually fine but they went around to literally every other table but ours). I saw how warmly the staff and owner interacted with the other tables and I don't need that level of service, but the basic level wasn't even met. we decided to leave soon after our entrees arrived but it took the longest time to flag someone down to get to-go boxes, then to get the check. not sure if they're racist but that's what I picked up especially as other reviewers with similar experiences are not white either. safe to say, i will not be supporting this restaurant in the future and I only wish I saw a review like this before making a res. read more

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Where do I even begin? Came in on Saturday night a couple weekends ago. I really wanted to like this place - and maybe the service would have been better at a different hour of the day. My friend and I were the last people to walk in, but there were at least 2-3 other tables still there. The guy at the door made us feel like we were unwelcome, and that rubbed me the wrong way from the start. It definitely looked more fancy than we had expected: white tablecloths draped over each table. Very elegant-looking but in a modern way. I loved the middle of the restaurant lined with all kinds of alcohol bottles. We were sitting next to the whiskeys. Too bad I wasn't in a drinking mood. There was also a nice stained glass window on the ceiling, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must look in there on a sunny day. When our server finally came and took our order, I was a bit chatty and friendly, asking questions about the menu, the friendliness was not reciprocated which made it a bit awkward. We started off with their calamari and ordered a vodka pasta to split. I wasn't really that hungry because I had already eaten dinner earlier in the night, but he hadn't. The calamari was probably one of the best we've had. It was lightly fried, perfect texture including the marinara (sometimes they can be too runny). The bread provided was also delicious, especially dipped in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The pasta arrived to us already split, nice detail. When they were set on the table, our server asked if we wanted cheese sprinkled. I automatically said yes, but I don't think it needed it. It looked cheesy enough. I'm not assuming anything, of course, but between all the joking around with my friend, we both agreed that the pasta looked as though it had been made with melted velveeta haha. I've had vodka pasta at a couple of other places and it was never this thick and gooey. Creamy? Yes, but more buttery/saucy and not so yellow (even the menu describes it as a pink sauce, but... look at the picture and see for yourself). I only ate about half and took the rest to go since our main reason to go was for dessert. Before the dessert got there, one of the workers came to pick up the table and exchanged a bit of conversation with my friend. Apparently there was an issue going on - maybe that was the cause of tension and awkwardness in the restaurant? Who knows. Anyway, my friend had been craving tiramisu for a while, and Yelp claimed they were known for theirs. I was craving something more refreshing and asked for the sorbetto al limone. Unfortunately, they were out. I ended up getting the tartufo. It was a ball of chocolate ice cream with hardened chocolate and cacao powder on the outside. It was pretty good but maybe I should have gone with the spumoni. The tiramisu was okay. We both prefer it to be more coffee and cacao forward. We did appreciate how light it was and not overly sweet. The owner did come by at the end to take our payment. He wasn't very talkative either despite my chattiness. I think they just wanted us out of there so they could close up and go home. Would I go again if I were in the area? I dunno. Maybe? But with so many options around, not very likely unless someone wanted to particularly go there. Or maybe for the calamari haha read more

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The food was so filling and delicious! We got the Fettuccine alla Bolognese and the Penne alla Vodka paired with a Port and Cabernet wine. The wines were served at the perfect temperature, chilled and sweet! We were so thankful to have been given some Parmesan pieces to enjoy with the wine, which really elevated our dining experience. The owner, Frank, was so nice and wholesome and made it such a welcoming and home like environment. read more

This is my go-to place for early dinner. I love the ambience. I love the food. And I love Franco the owner. This time I had the JUMBO Hawaiian prawns (not on the menu, you have to ask for them $48), which came prepared in a creamy butter sauce. Unbelievable. My very favorite dish. My friend had Gamberi agliata (shrimp in a garlic sauce). Entrees come with the best roasted potatoes anywhere, and deliciously sauteed veggies. The only proper ending is Tiramusu and Franco's is the best I've ever had. I dream about this food and get there as often as I can. Have been enjoying his fabulous cuisine for 20 years. Haven't been? You should go. read more

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Really good house wine, great apps, I got a lighter entree because I've been eating so much heavy stuff but they had some really delicious looking options for everything. Excellent service. read more

I do not leave bad reviews. I vote with my wallet, however, the service was awful. The server was rude. Does he know what the meaning of hospitality is? Most likely not. The food was nothing to write home about. It was okay. Will never return here. Now I know why it was dead on a Saturday night. read more

Pastina is a must-visit in Westwood for great Italian food! The virtual reservation system is super convenient to plan ahead for date nights, celebrations, etc. We started with warm bread and quality olive oil--so good that we got a second basket when our entrées took a bit longer (props to the attentive service!). We had the linguine con pesto and spaghetti al cognac--both delicious and generously portioned, especially with fresh Parmesan and red pepper. Can't wait to come back and try additional items on their menu! read more

Pastina - Spaghetti al Cognac Linguine con Pesto alla Genovese - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Every experience here has been excellent, and this one was no different. The bread they give you to start is nice and hot and if I had some butter, and maybe a small bowl of soup, that could be my meal. I started with my usual Caesar and may have noted in the past that they their dressing is a bit unusual and I really enjoy it. My two wonderful companions shared a different type of salad, and I forget which one, but both commented that it was delicious. All of our pasta dishes were great and one of us had gluten-free and that was very good as well. The service is always excellent, and I love seeing the owner, Frank there and involved all the time. read more

Excellent food and a wonderful family owns the restaurant. The place is pretty, warm, and inviting. Their bread is excellent. Highly recommend. read more

What a beautiful and elegant dining experience. In today's economy it's amazing to find a delicious restaurant where we had 2 for dinner just under 100. My spouse had his usual linguini vongole, which he's had at prolly 50 restaurants and he rated theirs as "excellent". I had the pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, which I also rated excellent. Great atmosphere, great service. We could talk without shouting. Definitely a winner to return to for more! read more

Pastina - Lots of liquor right behind the seating area. - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing food, bread, service, and drinks. 5 stars highly highly recommend for some good authentic Italian food

This Italian restaurant, owned by a Neapolitan family, truly captures the warm, welcoming spirit of Southern Italy. The owner is incredibly friendly, and the overall vibe makes you feel like you're dining with family. As a Neapolitan myself, I'm usually cautious about Italian food abroad (I say that all the time!) But this place came highly recommended, and it absolutely delivered. We started with the fried calamari, which were honestly the best I've ever had--perfectly cooked, tender, and packed with flavor. We followed with a couple of pasta dishes: the pesto linguine and the eggplant and cheese with tomato sauce. Both were rich, hearty, and incredibly flavourful--definitely on the heavier side, but completely worth it. To finish, we shared a light and delicious tiramisu made without eggs, which was the perfect way to close the meal. Street parking is available nearby, with meters depending on the time of day. read more

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Just a PENNE for my thoughts on @pastinatrattoria : wow, if you're in Westwood and haven't checked out this vibey, family-owned spot that whisks you back to the 90s with their vintage decor and award-winning Italian food, you definitely have to! I was blown away by the authenticity of all of their dishes, and how they were all well-made, portioned and reasonably priced (especially for West LA). Personally, I'm a HUGE pasta and seafood fan, so I was so excited seeing dishes such as seafood linguine and clams and mussels with bread on their menu. We also got to try their special of the night, an incredibly tender short rib with risotto, as well as THE TikTok famous columns of Pompeii pasta, which were cooked in their housemade creamy salmon sauce to al dente perfection. Their signature desserts (Affrogato and housemade tiramisu) were definitely the cherry on the top that made this one of the best dinners I've had in a while. The staff were absolutely incredible, and we appreciated how they came over so often to personally check in on us and conversate with us about our meal. They even threw in quite a few complimentary appetizers and drinks, and offered to change tablecloths for us when ours got soiled. Overall, definitely worth checking out and supporting this precious authentic and family-owned gem if you're in the West LA area! read more

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ALWAYS an amazing Dinner. A beautiful Family run business and very attentive staff, with perfect for small Events. Full Bar and a nice Wine menu. read more

Definitely not a 5-star restaurant in my opinion. They deserve like 6 stars for service and food all together. This review might be all over the place but I felt pretty overwhelm because everything was so good and I don't know where to start. I've never been to a restaurant that guests and hosts interacted like they're lifetime friends or something. The atmosphere is very homey. The fact that this place is a family business doesn't surprise me why it's SO good. I've heard they've been around for 30 years. I'm far away from knowing what it's like to have Italian food like an Italian. The server explained to me in details. He talked a lot that I felt unusual because I almost never interacted this much in other restaurants in USA. Food was just great. The drinks here are custom made. You can have the Yoda drink, which was very cool. The price is substantially higher than a random pasta place for sure, but you will understand why when you've been here and try the food. They have a small parking lot at the back but I noticed most customers just street park. read more

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My cousin for the longest, has raved about this restaurant to me and I finally got to go. Right from the start, I was impressed with the intimate setting, the decor, the bottle display. This restaurant is a family owned business, they treat customers like family. I asked the son for a suggestion based on my personal likes, and he told me the genovese with short rib and filet mignon was an amazing choice for meat lovers. I went ahead and also ordered a glass of Cabernet, because pairing pasta with wine is an absolute must! I also ordered their caprese, which was delicious. Meanwhile we waited, they brought their homemade bread, white sauce, and a red sauce; both of which were extremely delicious. I have to say, the order I got might have been the best pasta I have ever had. The meat was so juicy and flavorful, the sauce on the pasta was, chefs kiss! The night wouldn't be Italian without an Italian dessert! I went ahead and ordered their tiramisu (which by the way us house-made). It was the perfect way to top off the night. read more

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I took my client here for lunch. I was impressed with how the server welcomed and seated us. We enjoyed the foot and car traffic while waiting for our food. Cozy and fancy but not that fancy. Our orders came in timely manner. I ordered the Panino con Petto di Pollo. It was good but I took home half of it. The menu wasn't lying when it said large size. It is good for two. Tiramisu?? Yum . A must order. Highly recommended for Italian food. read more

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Family run, excellent food, always a delicious special easy experience. Don't miss the Bronzino and tiramisu.

Wonderful food, excellent service. Owner liked to visit with all the tables, always a good sign

pastina i've never felt so unwelcomed in a restaurant before, especially as someone who tries to give a positive review. parking - we came a bit early before opening and parked in the alley behind the restaurant that had parking labeled "Pastina Customer Parking." however, 10 minutes before opening, the gate of the parking lot shut close, so we were trapped in. we called the restaurant asking what was going on, and CHRISTINA was very rude to us on the phone. she yelled at us to get out continuously despite it literally being labeled customer parking. she came outside to the back and proceeded to yell at us and tell me how to "properly drive." they opened the gate for us to leave and we street parked. christina - sorry but christina deserves a whole review on her own. worst customer service. for reference, we did not have a reservation, and the only good thing i can possibly say is that she accommodated us (in a very much empty restaurant lol). she sat us in the back and made it seem like we were a bother and dropped some snide comments under her breath. she made it clear we had to be gone by 7 pm, and even though it was 5:30 pm (opening time and there was literally one other person there), i did not appreciate the sense of urgency and unwantedness. if she didn't want to seat us, she could have just told us to leave. service - everyone other than christina was a sweetheart and made our experience okay. i must say again christina is the devil and dear i say mildly racist. food - i got the linguine con pesto alla genovese, and it was pretty good. my friend got the fettuccini alfredo and said it was too creamy, so she got sick of it after a bit. my other friend got the penne alla vodka and enjoyed the pasta noodle, but was very disappointed in the sauce. overall - the restaurant's food is okay, but the service was probably the worst i've had. i feel as though they (mainly CHRISTINA) discriminated against us either because we are young or that we were the only Asian people there. shoutout to the other employees who have to deal with the wrath of Christina on the daily. bless you all. read more

Pastina - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Pastina is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in LA. The food is consistently delicious--every dish is made with care, fresh ingredients, and authentic flavors that transport you straight to Italy. Whether it's the perfectly cooked pasta, the rich sauces, or the fresh bread, you can tell everything is made with love. The owner and staff are incredibly warm, friendly, and accommodating. They always make us feel welcome, like part of the family. It's that rare kind of place where you not only love the food, but you look forward to the experience of being there. We come here about three times a month, and it never disappoints. It's become our go-to Italian restaurant for both casual dinners and special occasions. Highly recommend to anyone looking for amazing Italian food and genuine hospitality! read more

Delicious food, nice service, and beautiful interior decor. Will definitely be coming back!

Excellent food, terrific service for take-out. I had been ordering online (several times) and the latest time one of the folks there (maybe a manager) met me at the door and explained that I could save 20% calling the order in instead of using their online service. We love the food here, it's on the more expensive end but it's definitely worth it. It's cooked perfectly, includes nice sides, and lots of bread. It's also packaged extremely well which is a big deal for take-out and not always the case. I would highly recommend this local Italian place. They have a lovely dining room for a nice semi-formal dinner if that's your thing but you can't go wrong with the take-out. read more

Food excellent Service excellent Ambiance excellent I have been going to Pastina's for over 3 decades and have never been disappointed. I have celebrated many birthdays and new years there! read more

Pastina is one of those restaurants that is not the easiest to review. It's kind of a mixed bag of tricks. First of all the wait staff has somewhat of an attitude. It's just a pure attitude and it's definitely on the abrupt side. The food is a fair value for the quantity and I would say overall the quality was good. The bread is tasty and fresh. I would like some of their sauces to have a bit more zest but that's just my opinion. I think this restaurant would do a lot better if they brushed up on their service and bring a friendlier and more welcoming atmosphere when people dine here. read more

Pastina - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I want to start off and say that my friend and I loved the food. We got the spinach salad, calimari, mussel pasta and penne a la vodka. Had great wine and cocktail. A delicious tiramisu. I want to say that the service was lacking. Or just not good at all. We stood at the front for almost 15 minutes- it was so painfully awkward. There were very little seats to wait in so we were awkwardly at the door. Finally someone, the owner came. He was nice enough and told us we was prepping the table. We saw him interact incredibly warmly with other patrons, but would be sheepish around us. The owner never checked in on us during the night but he would gladly stop by other tables. Our waiter was kind but never made eye contact with us. They were busy but it took a while to be served and every interaction seemed so awkward. The table next to us must have been close to the owner and they talked a lot with him. But they were glaring at my friend and I from across the table and made us feel terrible. They kept looking at us. We weren't loud, they started staring at us the second we sat down. We were trying to have a fun night and eat great food but it's so awful when you can't taste because you feel stared at, ignored and unwelcome. It felt like a club that we were not invited to- the opposite of what a great Italian restaurant should be. I would love to give a second chance because it was so delicious but feeling so awful is barely worth tolerating again. Che peccato. read more

Delicious food and the staff was so friendly and processional. They had great recommendations. Everything was fresh and delicious. read more

Pastina - Calamari Luciana - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Pastina is the perfect place to go for and everyday meal or special occasion. Went last night for a birthday dinner. Everything was delicious. They have a price fixe menu as well as a really nice dinner menu. In addition they maintain an extensive wine and spirit selection. The service is friendly and accommodating. I highly encourage you to visit read more

Pastina - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've lived near Pastina for years , but it seemed so formal it turned me off. But then a friend suggested it so I thought "why not?" What a pleasant surprise. It was relaxed, and the staff was very friendly. And the food was great! I'll be back! read more

Some of the best Italian food in Los Angeles. It's authentic food from the heartland, Italia! Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

An Italian dinner done right. It started with fresh baked warm bread. My wife and I had bolognese, son has the angel hair pasta, daughter had the salmon bowtie, and mom has the special sand dabs. Everyone tried a bit of each type of food we ordered and it was all excellent. There were lots of regulars and everyone was treated very well so we will be back. read more

I've been going here for over 30 years never had a bad meal. Frank is an amazing host and when he know's my Mom is coming her favorite thing is calamari and he has it on the table waiting for her. Simply an amazing place. read more

Everything from service, to food, to ambience is 5 stars. The restaurant is quiet and very charming. The quality of food is high. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant, reminds my family and I a lot of Europe. read more

Stopped here for dinner on a whim while on the west side. Great food. Lovely service. Amazing place.

We've come to this Italian restaurant at least a half a dozen times before and after Covid. The owners Francesco and Nancy Catullo are hands on and you will see one or both when you dine at Pastina. In addition to regular pasta choices they have both vegetarian and gluten free options. There is no pizza on the menu. They have a variety of entrees that will satisfy even the most discerning customer. Covid has hit this restaurant like others. Customers are slowly returning but servers have been spotty and inconsistent. Will continue to return and I recommend you try it for yourself. read more

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I'm hesitant to write such a positive review because this neighborhood spot is perfect as-is -- I can find parking and get a table anytime I want. The food here is splendid, starting with the bread they serve at the beginning of your meal through dessert. We always go for the salmon farfalle pasta and the cioppino. Their cioppino is next level. The service is always incredibly friendly and welcoming to us (despite us always showing up looking so casual), and the ambiance is elegant - white tablecloths, spacious seating, nice decor. Just an all-around fabulous place for a cozy Italian dinner. read more

We were a party of 6. Despite a busy Friday night at the dinner hour, we were warmly greeted by the owner himself, promptly seated and expertly handed over to our server who was equally smooth and adept at his craft. Throughout dinner, he was present at all the right moments without missing a beat while not appearing stressed or rushed. Our selections were veal scallopine, chicken piccata, linguine di Mare, spinach salad and sand dabs. All the items were expertly prepared and delicious. The wine list was robust and paired well with the menu offerings. The ambiance was delightful and space was well appointed. Enough street parking to not pose as a challenge. This venue is 1 block off the beaten path and well worth your visit Highly recommend. read more

A longtime favorite of ours!!! Wonderful food & service!!!! It's a gem and we hope it stays in West LA forever!!!

Looking for a causal dinner with outdoor seating Reviews on Pastina made it sound perfect. We made 6:00 PM reservations for a Sunday night. It was pretty empty when we got there on the inside and we were the only ones seated on the patio behind the restaurant. The patio did fill up by the time we finished dinner. The patio area is actually the parking lot that they converted to a patio (see the photos). 'They did a very nice job - very private, no street noise like so many outdoor eating areas hastily erected to accommodate COVID seating requests at the front of the restaurant on the sidewalk. The owner, Francesco, showed us to the table and told us about the specials. He was incredibly warm and welcoming. Three of us decided to share a appetizer and 2 entrees. We started with the Caciotta Frits ($18). It has roasted bell papers over a bed of arugula lettuce with fried two goat cheese, pine nuts and sun dried tomato cakes plus tomato wedges on the side. Good presentation and glad I tried it but not something I would order again. As the main course, we shared the farfalle al salmone ($24). A huge portion of bow tie pasta with smoked salmon flambé with vodka, shallots and a light pink sauce. DELISH!!! We also shared petto di pollo alla cacciatora ($24.50). The chicken comes with delicious sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms onions and other veggies on the side. Also really good. The service was outstanding throughout the meal (kudos to the busboy who kept our glasses full even when we were the only ones eating outside). Excellent food, outstanding service, and cleverly created enjoyable outdoor eating area. Definitely will return here when looking for good Italian food in West LA. read more

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Food, service and ambiance were all great. I live only a few minutes away and had never been there. I was thrilled to find great food in my neighborhood. read more