If you've been here, you know. If you haven't, then you need to experience this food.It's the best gelato in the world. End of story.What may not be clear is that basically every other gelato store in the US (and oftentimes, the world) ships its gelato in from a giant factory in Italy. Leo, the owner, finds that product offensive, and makes a point of producing something that is altogether from a different planet.People come from Arizona to get his pistachio gelato. I'm partial to the chocolate and sea salt, myself. But the granitas and sorbets are not to be missed, either.No matter what your tastes (or food allergies), this place has something delicious for you, and you can sample everything.Go here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Goat's Milk Gelato with Cacao Nibs, Gelato Ice Cream, Pomegranate, Strawberry, Chocolate-Orange Gelato, Red Plum Sorbet, Tiramisu Gelato
The service was great here. It had a very calm, casual ambiance with a touch of romance. The food was authentic and had delicious flavors! You can tell they really take their time cooking the meals and put in a lot of effort in perfecting the dishes. Leo, the owner was very pleasant and personable as well. Highly recommend coming here for an amazing Italian dinner. We had the margarita pizza, cannolis, and the Tagliatelle con sugo de carne pasta. Loved all three! Oh and the white wine was delicious too Leo also told us about some cooking classes offered on Fridays. We are sure to come to those!
Johanna Avalos
Do not pay attention to the hours posted here on Google. We came by at 2pm because it said it was opened but it is closed. We got told they open at 3pm so we decided to wait and spent some time at the park down the street. Came back at 330pm and still closed.What a disappointment. I was really excited to try their Gelato ice cream.
Atmosphere: 4
Brittany C.
My new favorite place, it was truly a "where have you been all my life" experience. The food, the wine, the gelato... I felt like I was transported to Europe for an evening. I spent over 3 hours here and never felt rushed, in fact Leo the owner explained that's the atmosphere he wants to create for his patrons. The cost is so reasonable for the quality and thoughtfulness of his dishes. I cannot wait to bring my whole family, I want everyone I know to get to experience Bulgarini. I sat inside but the patio is such a vibe as well. Thank you Leo, you have a loyal customer that thinks the world of your creative culinary talent.
David S.
I consider this restaurant a true gem. There aren't many places I've been to in the area that operate in such an authentic and old-world way. The food, music, and interaction with the owner were remarkable. It's clear that the priorities of the owner are unique in this day and age. He's not driven to turn tables and churn out good-enough food; rather, the entire experience has an artisan feel to it. The cuisine and pace are about slow enjoyment. Importantly, don't go on an evening if you're expecting the typical American restaurant experience. If so, you'll likely be disappointed. The service is very European, which can feel slow by US standards. No one is hustling. However, if you want to sink into a relaxed culinary journey, and spend an evening getting lost in the moment, I'm not sure you'll find a better spot in the SGV.
Chinarut R
gelato to die for! we had the wiki blood orange combo & it was awesome. this family run place has expanded to outdoor seating if you decide to dine here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Hollander
The best gelato and great authentic Italian food!!!
Linda Nikravan
The bread is amazing here! Definitely get the bread. The pasta was yummy too. We arrived at 2 pm on a Sunday. They open at 2... but the kitchen wasn't open. Make sure you call and make a reservation before heading over because they might not really be open.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Anton P.
Hands down the BEST Italian restaurant in Los Angeles!! Everything is hand made to order the day of. Excellent ambiance; the wine list is exceptional. Please come here and end your dinner with the world famous (also hand made!) gelato. Leo is a fantastic chef and host.
Review incomplete - the hours posted here on google are incorrect. Website has different hours listed.
tal t.
If I could give zero stars I would. Let me start off with the food. Very sub par, they literally only have 1 pizza which is margherita but all it had on it was cheese, no basil or garlic. Chuckee cheese pizza is better to be honest. my kids wanted pink sauce. The owner/waiter said "we don't do that" so then I asked for the spaghetti with meat sauce but very light sauce for the kids. He smirked and said "I'll make it right", it arrived DRENCHED in sauce like as if he put more on purpose. The focaccia bread arrived, I asked if they had oil and vinegar for dipping...he said "eat it like that" so extremely rude and cocky and he has no reason to be. Your food sucks buddy but your personality is worse. Never coming back!!
Nils Lambrecht
If you want the best Italian food which feels like you're back in Tuscany, this is it! And the pistachio ice cream is the best one in LA.
My partner and I had been to this restaurant a few times for gelato and we loved every flavor we tried. Yesterday we came for gelato later in the day and saw a man eating a delicious plate of fresh pasta and bread and vowed that we had to come back the following day for a proper meal. We arrived tonight at 8:30 and since it's a Saturday, there was live music which was a beautiful touch. The restaurant is essentially a part of a strip mall so you generally wouldn't expect ambiance, but the outdoor dining area actually feels very intimate--like you're in a dear friend's backyard. You forget that you're just a few paces away from a drug store and you're transported to a quaint family restaurant in Italy. Now the food: the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly al dente. I got the fettuccini al funghi and my partner got the tagliatelle with meat sauce--both were insanely delicious. We also got a few glasses of wine from the wine menu that the owner, a former sommelier, curated himself. Lastly, we capped the night off with a fresh cannoli. There are other Italian restaurants in Pasadena, but you have to deal with the chaos of old town Pasadena and the lack of parking. If you want a restaurant that's not rushing you out the door as soon as you finish your meal, this place will be more your speed. All in all it was a great experience and we will absolutely be back!
Celeste Smith
Maybe this is super authentic Italian food, I can't speak to that, but I got the duck ragu and it was not at all what I expected. It was more similar to a thick chicken noodle soup. The noodles tasted like the egg chicken soup noodles and the sauce had no tomato or the things you would expect in a ragu, or the usual slow simmer process. The meat was tiny chunks and didn't taste like duck. It also had long thyme stems that got suck in my mouth. Only ate a couple bites.The person I went with got the wild boar pasta and also didn't like it. The noodles were better, but the sauce wasn't tomato as expected and still didn't taste good.Way too expensive for what we got.
If you've been here, you know. If you haven't, then you need to experience this food.It's the best gelato in the world. End of story.What may not be clear is that basically every other gelato store in the US (and oftentimes, the world) ships its gelato in from a giant factory in Italy. Leo, the owner, finds that product offensive, and makes a point of producing something that is altogether from a different planet.People come from Arizona to get his pistachio gelato. I'm partial to the chocolate and sea salt, myself. But the granitas and sorbets are not to be missed, either.No matter what your tastes (or food allergies), this place has something delicious for you, and you can sample everything.Go here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Goat's Milk Gelato with Cacao Nibs, Gelato Ice Cream, Pomegranate, Strawberry, Chocolate-Orange Gelato, Red Plum Sorbet, Tiramisu Gelato
Wonderful food,atmosphere and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Course Sampling & Gelato Pairing
The service was great here. It had a very calm, casual ambiance with a touch of romance. The food was authentic and had delicious flavors! You can tell they really take their time cooking the meals and put in a lot of effort in perfecting the dishes. Leo, the owner was very pleasant and personable as well. Highly recommend coming here for an amazing Italian dinner. We had the margarita pizza, cannolis, and the Tagliatelle con sugo de carne pasta. Loved all three! Oh and the white wine was delicious too Leo also told us about some cooking classes offered on Fridays. We are sure to come to those!
Do not pay attention to the hours posted here on Google. We came by at 2pm because it said it was opened but it is closed. We got told they open at 3pm so we decided to wait and spent some time at the park down the street. Came back at 330pm and still closed.What a disappointment. I was really excited to try their Gelato ice cream.
Atmosphere: 4
My new favorite place, it was truly a "where have you been all my life" experience. The food, the wine, the gelato... I felt like I was transported to Europe for an evening. I spent over 3 hours here and never felt rushed, in fact Leo the owner explained that's the atmosphere he wants to create for his patrons. The cost is so reasonable for the quality and thoughtfulness of his dishes. I cannot wait to bring my whole family, I want everyone I know to get to experience Bulgarini. I sat inside but the patio is such a vibe as well. Thank you Leo, you have a loyal customer that thinks the world of your creative culinary talent.
I consider this restaurant a true gem. There aren't many places I've been to in the area that operate in such an authentic and old-world way. The food, music, and interaction with the owner were remarkable. It's clear that the priorities of the owner are unique in this day and age. He's not driven to turn tables and churn out good-enough food; rather, the entire experience has an artisan feel to it. The cuisine and pace are about slow enjoyment. Importantly, don't go on an evening if you're expecting the typical American restaurant experience. If so, you'll likely be disappointed. The service is very European, which can feel slow by US standards. No one is hustling. However, if you want to sink into a relaxed culinary journey, and spend an evening getting lost in the moment, I'm not sure you'll find a better spot in the SGV.
gelato to die for! we had the wiki blood orange combo & it was awesome. this family run place has expanded to outdoor seating if you decide to dine here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best gelato and great authentic Italian food!!!
The bread is amazing here! Definitely get the bread. The pasta was yummy too. We arrived at 2 pm on a Sunday. They open at 2... but the kitchen wasn't open. Make sure you call and make a reservation before heading over because they might not really be open.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Hands down the BEST Italian restaurant in Los Angeles!! Everything is hand made to order the day of. Excellent ambiance; the wine list is exceptional. Please come here and end your dinner with the world famous (also hand made!) gelato. Leo is a fantastic chef and host.
Restaurantji Recommends
Review incomplete - the hours posted here on google are incorrect. Website has different hours listed.
If I could give zero stars I would. Let me start off with the food. Very sub par, they literally only have 1 pizza which is margherita but all it had on it was cheese, no basil or garlic. Chuckee cheese pizza is better to be honest. my kids wanted pink sauce. The owner/waiter said "we don't do that" so then I asked for the spaghetti with meat sauce but very light sauce for the kids. He smirked and said "I'll make it right", it arrived DRENCHED in sauce like as if he put more on purpose. The focaccia bread arrived, I asked if they had oil and vinegar for dipping...he said "eat it like that" so extremely rude and cocky and he has no reason to be. Your food sucks buddy but your personality is worse. Never coming back!!
If you want the best Italian food which feels like you're back in Tuscany, this is it! And the pistachio ice cream is the best one in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Focaccia, Sicilian Pistachio Gelato, Gnocchi
My partner and I had been to this restaurant a few times for gelato and we loved every flavor we tried. Yesterday we came for gelato later in the day and saw a man eating a delicious plate of fresh pasta and bread and vowed that we had to come back the following day for a proper meal. We arrived tonight at 8:30 and since it's a Saturday, there was live music which was a beautiful touch. The restaurant is essentially a part of a strip mall so you generally wouldn't expect ambiance, but the outdoor dining area actually feels very intimate--like you're in a dear friend's backyard. You forget that you're just a few paces away from a drug store and you're transported to a quaint family restaurant in Italy. Now the food: the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly al dente. I got the fettuccini al funghi and my partner got the tagliatelle with meat sauce--both were insanely delicious. We also got a few glasses of wine from the wine menu that the owner, a former sommelier, curated himself. Lastly, we capped the night off with a fresh cannoli. There are other Italian restaurants in Pasadena, but you have to deal with the chaos of old town Pasadena and the lack of parking. If you want a restaurant that's not rushing you out the door as soon as you finish your meal, this place will be more your speed. All in all it was a great experience and we will absolutely be back!
Maybe this is super authentic Italian food, I can't speak to that, but I got the duck ragu and it was not at all what I expected. It was more similar to a thick chicken noodle soup. The noodles tasted like the egg chicken soup noodles and the sauce had no tomato or the things you would expect in a ragu, or the usual slow simmer process. The meat was tiny chunks and didn't taste like duck. It also had long thyme stems that got suck in my mouth. Only ate a couple bites.The person I went with got the wild boar pasta and also didn't like it. The noodles were better, but the sauce wasn't tomato as expected and still didn't taste good.Way too expensive for what we got.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Focaccia