50 Best Italian Restaurants near East Los Angeles

“The little plates are yummy. I love the pita bread that came with the hummus (Salatim plate). The other plates were good also. I loved the bread pudding (I think it's better than the best cake). What I like the most about Bacari, besides the beautiful ambiance, is the friendliest staff.“

“Great spot to keep in mind when in Los Angeles. Fresh pasta. Great taste.“

“Delicious little wine bar. We were looking for a place to eat, and everything near us was closing soon. I was searching on Yelp & found this spot. So, we jumped on the freeway and headed on over after making a reservation. Everything was SO good. The cheese & meat option we chose was great. The little tuna snack was flavorful, and the potatoes were amazing! The pizza was also really good. I had one glass of wine and it was refreshing as well. Great little place with the perfect chill vibe. Can't wait to come back!“

“Are you kidding me it’s always good“

“100% recommend. thank you“

“OMG!! we came here before the Angus and Julia Stone concert (around the corner from the Orpheum Theatre) the last Saturday in June and what a cozy little joint this place is! We sat at the bar

Service was spot on, my wine was delicious (a Chenin Blanc) and the Bolognese Pappardelle was mouthwateringly good! The wine list consist of natural wines. Such a chill vibe in here but we were early in our reservations so keeping that in mind I'd say it might get busier the later the hour. Also be aware they do NOT take cash for payment of your meal. They do, of course for tips just not for the meal.

Not a lot of room in here so don't come with the thought of a romantic dinner for two where you can whisper sweet-nothings to one another without someone else overhearing hahaha.

Parking lot was well lit behind the building, it is shared with the Theater.

Respectfully Reviewed.“

“I absolutely loved having dinner with my fiance here. This was our second time here. Service was excellent; attentive & charismatic. The food was absolutely delicious, flavorful & fresh. That chicken parm was crunchy & juicy - fried to perfection - with the most tangy & forward thinking marinara sauce on top. I left feeling completely satisfied & happy we spent our money.“

“Amazing delicious food and love the ambiance. The servers were awesome!!“

“A wonderful local place run by people who used to work at some high class places decided to run their own business. The sauces are great. They have specials all the time. I'm shocked how the prices are still low. Crowded even on a Wednesday.
You will not be disappointed.“

“My love for Little Dom’s runs deep. We even celebrated my daughter’s graduation here. No matter what you do, order a side of meatballs. The fennel in them and the meat sauce is divine. Don’t forget dessert either. The pastry chef is equally as talented. We recently tried the ridiculously good key like ice box pie. Also, Ariel, the manager is a dream. Cheers Little Dom’s! We love you.“

“Everything about my reservation was great. The entire staff is so friendly and accommodating. The food was fantastic. We left thinking about when we'd be back just to have the Fusilli alla Vodka again.
Pro tip! If you can’t find a reservation, set notifications on Resy for the times you are available. A few usually open up. Just be sure to have your credit card on file, they go fast! ?“

“Great selection of cold cuts, bread and pastries but the service could improve, they expect everyone that goes in there have been there many times but there's people who have been there for the first time and they get treated rather harsh like I was“

“We went to De LA Nonna during a short visit to LA and it was great. The decor was welcoming, the service was stellar, and the food was on point. We got some incredible cocktails and I'm pretty sure I'll be dreaming of that frozen spritz for some time. For food, we had an awesome salad, some grilled oysters, and some incredible pizzas—some seasonal and some that are always on the menu. I highly recommend the green chile and roasted corn pizza if it's on the menu. We also got a pepperoni one with hot honey, which was incredible... and one with fennel that was also delicious. Their pizzas are like if a foccaccia and pan pizza had the most delicious pizza baby ever. Oh, and I don't even like tiramisu but theirs was ridiculous and if you don't get it, you're missing out!“

“This is the most authentic Italian food in LA! The focaccia al formaggio di recco made me cry it was
that good. It’s the only place outside of Liguria I’ve ever tried it where it’s tasted as good as- probably because the owners Francesco and Francesca are from the region ! The custard donut and the crostata are also out of this world delicious“

“Foxy’s is the best!! My best friend @coreybricker and I recently had brunch there twice within a week. The freshly seasoned omelets and extra crispy hash browns were to die for! What really sets this place apart is it’s customer service! Everyone there is kind, patient, and super friendly! We are looking forward to going back there again soon!!“

“Was super happy with our dinner at Hippo. Every dish was delicious. The brussel sprouts and cauliflower starters had excellent flavors. All the pastas we tried had incredible depth of flavor without being overly heavy or greasy. The hippo rolls and table focaccia were excellent and the chicken thighs were to die for. Only thing that was lackluster was the passion fruit gelato. Fun vibe, lots of seating, and great service!“

“Great Food, Great Service...“

“Unique food , new recipes every time! Follow us“

“My husband and I value Palermo as one of the very best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles- complete with delicious authentic dishes and alive with personality and great service. Tony and his wonderful wife really take pride in their restaurant and they both go the extra mile to make sure their customers are happy. Love their delicious dishes, as well as their Palermo Italian dressing for salad.“

“This is a small locally owned restaurant with both amazing food, beverage selection and service. Ian made us feel at home. We will definitely be back and make this a regular stop. We highly recommend you stop in and experience some “Good Clean Fun”!“

“Had to stop by my favorite Italian grubbin in the heart of Old Town Pasadena all the way from Boise. This was my 3rd time and each time just keeps getting better; definitely the bigger the party, the better. We paid $225 for 4 pasta entrees, 3 appetizers, & 2 glasses of wine for a party of 6. I’ve learned to like my pastas al dente after having them here. The meatballs are banging, the wine-pairing was delightful. Our service was attentive and pleasant; the vibe is always vibrant and homey. Highly recommended.“

“It's delicious. The price is also right.“

“Our server was awesome... her recommendations were spot on! the food surpassed our expectations! exceptional...The ambiance was relaxing for a Friday night and perfect for our friend's birthday celebration. thank you for making it so special. Very happy party of 4 enjoyed dinner at Marina!“

“Tiny Italian pasta bar serving up yummy handmade pasta with an extensive wine list. Packed little place but cozy vibes. The dessert panna cotta was surprisingly bomb. Be sure to get there before dinner time otherwise you might be in for a long wait.“

“Delicious, authentic home style Italian food at its finest. the pasta is al dente the sauce is flavorful and simple tomato sauce and just everything is made so well. literally everything is good on the menu. must get that for tender calamari. lasagna, taglietelle and most importantly the famous cioppino will. ot disappoint. probably the best I've ever had. be patient because it takes about 30-40 mins to come out made to order. or pre order before getting to your reservations. Best place ever.“

“One of the best I’ve had “out” in a very long time.“

“A fantastic night of dancing, great food, big band magic, all set in a grand ballroom that evokes a sense of grandeur and style. I cannot recommend this enough. We saw Lizzy and the Triggermen there, who blew the roof off. As for the food, the tuna tartar was delicious, the veal piccata and branzino were both excellent, and the desserts were surprisingly elegant and capped the evening perfectly. Drinks are not cheap, but they’re well made and generous. All in all, an evening of high style hard to match anywhere in LA, or New York, for that matter. Cannot recommend enough.“

“We were impressed, pleased, grateful that the manager or owner was able to accommodate our party of 7, when we were originally a party of 6 but added one more last minute. Thank you for that. The food was tasty but would've appreciated larger pasta portion sizes for the price. The pizza sizes were ample. Would've also appreciated less of reaching in front of us adding water to our glasses and interrupting conversation and more just leaving the bottle of water at the table. Servers were very attentive, but would've liked less interruptions. Overall though the food, service, timing and accommodating us was all great!“

“Amazing smoothies and bowls! Yummmmy! Cute shop with food and gift items as well!“

“Came for Labor Day lunch.

We each had the lunch special that includes soup/salad, a main, and ice cream for dessert. I had the Mushroom lasagna which was very good. I really liked their marinara sauce. My wife had the Spaghetti Nero with Dungeness crab. She loved it.

We also really enjoyed our appetizers, the Calamari and the Cauliflower. The calamari was battered and cooked perfectly. The cauliflower was also great. I especially appreciated the addition of capers and golden raisins to the cauliflower that added a touch of sweet and tart.

The server was excellent too. The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable.

All-in-all, an excellent experience.“

“Quaint little Italian place. Service is great. Food is delicious. Their creamy pesto with short rib ravioli was amazing. Love that they add pine nuts too. The funghi pasta is so beyond delicious. We’ve had the funghi risotto too before and it’s a must. Literally the ONLY thing I wish… extra bread shouldn’t cost more. They don’t give you a lot to begin with and it’s just so good, we really wish we can eat more without paying more.

Parking - small free parking lot in front of the restaurant.“

“It was delicious and my waiter was awesome.“

“Great food at good prices“

“Great food Great service will visit again“

“They treat you like family. The food is incredibly great.“

“The entrees were amazing, salad was mixed; house salad was great, caesar only okay. Also the coffee after the meal was good not great. The restaurant was also loud, very busy. But it was Friday evening. All said, we will definitely visit again.“

“We had the DineLA menu. The corn gazpacho was wonderful, perfect for summer. Both the branzino and duck could use some more flavors. The chocolate sorbet was delicious! Nice dark chocolate flavor. Our server was excellent, friendly, helpful and attentive without being intrusive. The patio was nice and we very much appreciated the low volume music ...allowing us to have good table conversations without having to raise our voices.“

“Food is delicious but service sucks. Very slow staff they just walk in circles. Also at previous location desserts and drinks were always available. At this new location there’s barely any drinks or desserts. They also run out of forks. The restaurant needs a better management.“

“Love love love this place. We’ve been coming here for 19 years and highly recommend. Great food, wine and ambiance.“

“Great folks, diverse clientele and awesome food!!“

“Good food. Reasonable prices. No frills, hole in the wall kind of place. Good take out place. (Read: the lighting was really bad, decor seemed makeshift). You go there for the food and price, not for a date or an experience. Kind of surprised that this place has perfect 5 stars, so hope this review is a fairer representation of the place.“

“I am not one to provide reviews but I am a pesto lover, and it is one dish that is usually made in a variety of ways that are so-so. Well I finally found a place that makes a superbly "real" pesto!!!!! The inclusion of mint was a delicious addition. A true Italian dish does not require bread, and salads are usually eaten after the main meal. The portions were perfect and filling and the broccolini and pasta were all dented. I will try the brunch next, but I highly recommend this place. Karina and Francisco were great.“

“Incredible experience in this Argentine restaurant.

I had the pleasure of enjoying some delicious meat empanadas, perfectly seasoned and with a crispy dough on the outside. A true Argentine classic! In addition, we ordered the grill for two and it was simply spectacular: juicy cuts of meat, well cooked to the right point, and with an authentic flavor. The portion was generous and perfect for sharing.

The service was excellent, and the attention to detail really made the experience memorable. Without a doubt, I will return soon!“

“Really great food. Every dish I’ve had here has not disappointed me. The prices are reasonable and the service is great.

The location is not great but there is plenty of street parking nearby and the fixtures to accommodate outdoor seating is appreciated.“

“Lascaris’s never disappoints from there pizza to there sandwiches. Ordered the large Roast Beef, Ham and turkey sandwhich with cheese. The bread was nice and soft and came with mayo lettuce and tomatoes. The sandwhich also comes with a side to which I got the macaroni which was nice and creamy. Sandwiched and side totaled 15.50$ I also threw in some bbq chips for a 1.25$ more total came out to 16.75 which felt was pretty decent. I would definitely recommend Lascaris to anyone looking for fresh yummy Italian food.“

“the pizza is ausome been going to Angelo's pizza many years ago and it still the same“

“Muy bueno el servicio la comida lo mejor“

“My workplace usually orders from Melrose Café. All i can say is…YUMMMM! The food is always fresh, tasty, hot when it arrives and the staff very friendly and welcoming. Hard working cooks and front of house! Thank you for the hard work you guys do!“

“They have the best pizza and the environment feel like your at home.“