Iconic LA Italian Restaurant 2024 Review
The Los Angeles restaurant scene can be very fickle. Often restaurants that are “hot” and nearly impossible to get a reservation can be gone in just a few years, sometimes even sooner. The iconic Italian restaurants we are highlighting have managed to beat the odds. Musso & Frank, which has been around for over 100 years, is certainly the granddaddy of them all; however most have been around for decades. The latest restaurant included is Felix Trattoria, which opened seven years ago but it’s such an LA mainstay we felt that we needed to include it. We have visited most of these restaurants multiple times, but we thought it would be interesting to revisit each just to see how they are evolving. Let us take you on a very brief tour….
Musso & Frank (Established 1919)
Musso & Frank is technically not an Italian restaurant because of the wide variety of food offerings. But since there is a very large selection of Italian food and it is definitely worth trying, we decided to include it. We actually have done a separate post on Musso & Frank if you want more detail; today we are only focusing on the Italian fare. The ambience at this 100+ year institution is very 1920s. If you aren’t into that vibe then this restaurant may not be for you. The Italian offerings are very traditional so if you are looking for more trendy selections you won’t find them here. But if you are looking for high quality, great service and amazing martinis, this is your spot!
Let’s talk about our last visit, focusing on the Italian offerings. As always, we were pleasantly greeted by the host, seated in our favorite back room and immediately introduced to our waiter. Efficient but not pushy (I never feel rushed in spite of the fact that the restaurant is always packed) he mentioned a few of his favorite dishes: Chicken Parmigina and The Original Fetcinne Alfredo. I have included an excerpt from the Italian Entre portion of the menu. Be sure and read the original story of how this dish came to be. There are seven different pastas, and although I haven’t had them all, I can almost guarantee that they are yummy! I have literally been going to Musso & Frank for 30+ years. It has never disappointed so we absolutely recommend it.
Giorgio Baldi (Established 1990)
Giorgio Baldi (or Baldi to regulars) has been a Los Angeles landmark for the past three decades. It has been a celebrity “go to” almost from it’s inception. In the 90s, you might have seen Tom Hanks, David Geffen of even President Clinton. Fast forward to today; you will still find Baldi is the place to be seen. From Rihanna to Kim Kardashian (both preferring the pasta dishes) to Hailey and Justin Bieber or, most recently, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, it is clearly still the place the famous frequent. Although Giorgio Baldi passed in 2011, the restaurant is still family run. On the website, they describe their mission:
“Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi is a family-managed restaurant that has been serving the Los Angeles area for thirty years. Our rules are: simplicity, authenticity, the love for tradition, and full respect for our customers. Our establishment is appreciated not only in California, but also by the rest of the country.”
I haven’t been to Giorgio Baldi for many years, but Harriet and her family dined there recently for a birthday celebration. The space is cozy and surprisingly unpretentious. The large hedges that flank the entrance assure privacy once you have entered. The menu is obviously Italian based. Of course there are great pasta selections from the simple Stracetti al Basilico (square pasta with tomato sauce and basil) to the more complex Ricciarelle al Tartufo (pappardelle in white truffle sauce.) There is a very large selection of fish from Sogliola al Limone (Dover sole in lemon sauce) to Aragosta Saltata (Maine lobster).
Harriet loved the Carpaccio or the Burrata Tricolore to start. The Carciofin salad was also a favorite. She loves fish so the Dover Sole or Scampi were high on the list. It’s tough to choose a pasta as they are all unique. I have included a portion of the menu so you can see the choices.
Giorgio Baldi is not inexpensive; however, it really is no more than most upscale Los Angeles restaurants. If you are looking for a simple but authentic restaurant (and perhaps interested in a celebrity sighting) this is the iconic Italian restaurant for you!
Angelini Osteria Established 2001)
In 2001, Gino & Elizabeth Angelini opened Angelini Osteria, one of LA’s most celebrated destination for authentic Italian cuisine served with the highest level of hospitality. The restaurant vibe is definitely not fussy; you feel like you are in a friendly Italian trattoria. I visited Angelini Osteria a few months ago with my friend Diane. Neither of us had been for several years but immediately we recognized a table of regulars who literally come at least once a month. That is the type of restaurant it is. The setting is unpretentious and the tables are packed in. It is a bit noisy but that rather adds to the overall atmosphere. The food is also unpretentious but definitely as good as we remembered. We chose a few simple dishes: Pizza Margherita, Insalata Tricolore, Tagliolini Limone and Penne with Pomodoro. All were authentic and very tasty; however, there are a multitude of great pastas as well if you are a bit more adventurous. The “Secondi” selections featured seafood (branzino, scallops, swordfish and sole) as well as some traditional meat choices.
If you are looking for authentic Italian fare in a casual setting, Angelini Osteria on Beverly Boulevard is still as good as it was 20 years ago. The restaurant is small and although there is outdoor seating, I would recommend you reserve indoors. The Angelini Retaurant Group has opened Angelini Ristorante & Bar in the Palisades. We have not yet visited but will definitely be going soon.
Osteria Mozza (established 2007)
Osteria Mozza is the brainchild of James Beard award winning chef Nancy Silverton who opened the restaurant with Mario Batali 16 years ago. It is a Michelin Star restaurant and has consistently been a Los Angeles mainstay since its inception. I visited several months ago for a dear friend’s birthday although I have probably been to this restaurant at least a dozen times. It never fails to delight.
It is definitely the least traditional restaurant that we have reviewed. Not only is the decor more sleek and updated, the menu is also more inventive. I recommend going a bit early to enjoy a cocktail at the bar. The bartenders are usually very accommodating and will make suggestions based on your alcohol preferences. It can be crowded so make an early reservation if you are interested in a drink before.
Osteria Mozza is famous for the Mozzarella Bar so you definitely need to consider an order. There are ten varieties to choose from so there is something for everyone (assuming you like mozzarella!) There is also an extensive Italian wine list; I would begin with a mozzarella and wine pairing. Possibly the best known antipasti is Nancy’s Caesar. It includes traditional Caesar ingredients but presented in a very distinctive manner.
As mentioned, the menu has some traditional Italian dishes but also some very unique offerings. For example, there is a Beef Cheek Ravioli, an Orecchiette with fennel sausage and swiss chard or a Ricotta and Egg raviolo. The “Secondi”menu is very seafood centric although there are two beef dishes.
If you are looking for a more unique Italian restaurant with a more upscale vibe, Osteria Mozza is probably for you.
Rao’s (Established 2013)
It is likely that you are familiar with the Rao’s name even if you haven’t visited the Hollywood restaurant. It is a replica of the Rao’s in NYC which opened in 1896. Rao’s Hollywood opened in 2013 on an inconspicuous Hollywood side street. My first visit was actually in 2023 with several friends including my dear friend Barbara who is a regular at the restaurant. Needles to say, we experienced exceptional service (although I can’t guarantee that it wasn’t because I was with a regular) The vibe is definitely eclectic, almost a bit funky. Great cocktails, especially the martinis. The food was upscale Italian; we ordered pasta which was great. I particularly loved the mushroom risotto. Frankly I would stick with pasta; it’s not crazy expensive and everyone at the table selected from that part of the menu. As an FYI, Rao’s is known for their sauces, particularly the red sauce which is available at your local market! Would I go again? Yes. But if you are looking for a more sophisticated vibe, this may not be for you.
Felix Trattoria (Established 2017)
Ok…Felix Trattoria is only seven years old but we just had to mention it. As the first restaurant in the Evan Funke LA dynasty (he also has Mother Wolf and the newly opened Funke) it is one of our favorites. I recently revisited Felix for my daughter’s birthday. She and her husband were so impressed they brought his parents back a month later! What makes this restaurant so great?
Located in Venice, the Felix vibe is casual but chic. It’s typically busy so be sure to make a reservation. There is a seven day reservation window so make sure you book early on the seventh previous day. You also will need to have a credit card to hold the reservation.
It’s difficult to figure out what to select from the menu because everything is so good (at least everything I have had) Let me talk about some of our favorites. To begin, the Sfincione (foccacio)bread is an absolute must. We also loved the Squash Blossoms and the Pizza Quattro Formaggi. There are seven different pizza choices As this is a Felix specialty, I would highly recommend ordering one. Each is created in their wood burning oven which is visible so you can watch the process.
After all of the antipasti, you may not have room for a salad. If you do we enjoyed the Dama Bianca (fennel, apples, celery and parmigiano) or the Burrata Cachi (burrata with persimmons).
I cannot tell you which pasta to chose as they are all pretty amazing. My suggestion would be to order several to share. We particularly enjoyed the Cacio e Pepe, Tagliatelle Bolognese and the Linguine al Limone. But honestly you won’t be disappointed no matter what you select.
This is a favorite of ours. Hopefully you will feel the same!
I realize this post is insanely long. I hope you at least read a portion that may entice you to visit one of these iconic restaurants. There are so many Italian eateries in Los Angeles it is difficult to choose. These are some of our favorites!
XO
Wendy