50 Best Italian Restaurants near Universal City

“Excellent food and Judy was an excellent host she put up with us Australians 🍺🍺😀😀😎“

“Didn’t even get a chance to take a photo of me and my boyfriend’s food because we were so hungry!!And lemme tell you we tore that shit up!! The garlic bread and the pizza was hella greasy but hella delicious 😂 you must seriously try it

Vegetarian options: Cheese pizza, garlic bread, side ceasar salad“

“Delicious authentic Roman cuisine …“

“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.“

“Our family had an excellent meal at Mother Wolf last night. The pasta was out of this world and the Italian wine selection was great. The decor is very nice and conducive to an overall excellent experience.“

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.“

“Went here last night with some friends who raved about this place, and it did not disappoint! We asked our server, Mickey, to bring us her favorites, with wines chosen by Rachel, our sommelier. The quality of the food, wine pairings and service rank among the best I've experienced -- and I say that having dined at Central in Lima, Peru (#1 restaurant in South America and #2 in the world) in 2022. An amazing meal!!“

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!“

“The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, attentive without being intrusive, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve👍👍“

“The food was very tasty, will be back next time“

“If you are involved in a show at the Pantages or seeing a show, THIS is the spot. I ate here 4 times in just my short time staying in LA. The staff was so welcoming and even helped me squeeze in some friends that surprised me onto our dinner reservation. Everything I ate exceeded my expectations and I always left so satisfied. Best Kale Salad ever! Major shout out to the manager, Sean, who always went out of his way to make me feel comfortable and welcomed. I can't wait to come back!“

“Angelini Osteria totally lived up to the hype! We had a great dinner there that night and I can't wait to go back again soon. Let's start with the star of this show: uni pasta. Oh my gosh, it was divine! The uni was so fresh and creamy and the pasta itself was cooked just right. Every bite was an explosion of flavor. We also tried the baked lasagna and it was delightful. The layers were perfectly balanced and each bite was full of rich, savory flavors. Let's not forget dessert! We shared a few different things and they were all great. The tiramisu was fluffy and decadent and the chocolate mousse was rich and smooth. Overall, Angelini Osteria is definitely a must-try for Italian food lovers in Los Angeles. The food is incredible, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. We can't wait to come back and try more dishes on the menu!“

“Been here now 4 times and it keeps impressing me. The food quality and flavours are SO good, and the wine choices are great, haven’t gotten a bad one yet. The ambiance is a key element too, making it feels like home/community (the name ‘Companion’ is the right one!) with the LP player, the massive bookshelf, the wooden elements and the tables setup. It’s a favourite for us, where we always bring out friend and family visiting us. Love it’s in our neighbourhood!“

“Are you kidding me it’s always good“

“I had a wonderful time at Propaganda Wine Bar. The food was excellent and well made. I forgot my waiters name but he was so sweet and attentive to me and my friend. The music was good, and overall great experience. Thank you to all the staff!“

“Stopped by here without a reservation on a Thursday night and waited about 25 mins to get a seat. This place is so nice and the bartender was very friendly and helpful . The ambiance is really cozy. I Ordered the shrimp scampi and really enjoyed it. So much flavor!! The bathroom was also super cute and clean. Will definitely be coming back to this little gem of a place“

“I’ve always been curious about this restaurant, and I’m so glad I finally went! The service was fantastic and super friendly. They even helped us pick out our plates. I absolutely loved my lasagna—it’s seriously one of the best I’ve ever had. Plus, the sodas are so authentic, I can’t get enough. And the best part I was sitting right next to the grove water fountain!“

“Truly a hidden gem. The quality is bar none at this price point. The salmon is cooked to perfection, and the tangy basil sauce perfectly balances the flavor. I’ve had the grilled chicken with mushroom sauce twice, and I love the consistency. You can park at the public parking lot behind the restaurant. You're welcome.“

“Had artichoke as a starter and filet mignon as a main course. The food was really delicious, and the service was excellent - but the seating was rough on the bum. Also the music was kind of loud, so it was hard to hear my friends at the table.
Revisited this week. (Brought my own seat cushion-made it a lot more enjoyable.) Still was loud, but the food was worth it! Had a great server and an enjoyable evening. Started with delicious brussel sprouts and cheese board - once again had filet mignon which was medium rare and perfection!“

“Funke does many things right, yet still manages somehow to feel both warm but not inviting at the same time.

It’s odd to me because I recently met Chef Evan Funke and he seemed to be a super nice and warm guy(and clearly very talented), yet his spirit seems to not shine as bright as it could in this particular environment.

A protege of Wolfgang Pucks from back in the day, he himself has become quite a celebrity chef with hundreds of thousands of followers on IG, and all the other things: book, tv appearances, etc…

I believe he’s considered the “Pasta God of California!”

While I have yet to try his other concepts, Mother Wolf (Hollywood) and Felix Trattoria(Venice Beach) Funke is his newest addition to his portfolio of eateries, if not a huge departure in menu from the other two; freshly made authentic Italian pastas and elevated pizzas and animal proteins with a thoughtful bar and wine list. It’s all very good.

The standouts are the squash blossoms and pizza for me, and olive oil infused craft cocktail, but I have yet to try the pastas so cannot comment.

I’m giving this a 4/5 because I can’t help but feel that Funke can’t decide what experience it truly wants to give you. As I said, it’s warm, but not necessarily inviting.

All that said, add it to your list for fine-dining in Beverly Hills. It’s worth going for the open-air rooftop bar and squash blossoms alone.“

“My friend and I had a terrific dinner last night at Civico 2064. We were looking for a quiet place for a tasty bite and this was a fantastic spot. Brandon greeted us at the door and made sure everything about the meal was perfect. The space is large but still felt cozy and the atmosphere is very inviting. We order a tasty starter to share and the short rib pasta which was sublime. I am Italian and the freshly made pasta and delicate, yet robust sauce, reminded me of my ancestral home in italy. There are plenty of authentic Italian options as well as a really interesting and large vegan menu. I love vegan food and can't wait to return and sample some things from that side of the menu. This is a terrific local eatery that feels both special and homey and we will definitely be back.“

“My favorite part of my trip to LA/Beverly Hills! Edward is the GM. He is very personable, and he and his staff do a fantastic job! The homemade focaccia bread melts in your mouth. Yummy! Highly recommended!“

“100% recommend. thank you“

“I've dined here sporadically in the last 10 years and every time I get the chance to visit, everything is consistent and on point. Quality is amazing, service is efficient and friendly and gracious, ambiance is so cute. Since COVID - restaurants have been ... disappointing to say the least, but not at RAO's. Thank you so much. You guys are amazing and give me hope.“

“There was a lovely engagement last night in front of Prosecco’s . Young love, and she said, “Yes!”“

“Three of us went to this lovely spot this week. The food was delicious, especially the beet salad. There was confusion in regards to the food being brought out to the correct table (the people next to us had ordered the same thing) but the manager went above and beyond to make it right. Well worth a visit. It took a 5 minute wait to be seated at 6:30pm on a Friday night which I thought was very reasonable!“

“Atmosphere was great! Service was fabulous. Drinks were tasty! Margarita Pizza lacked cheese but the Sweet Cheeks was amazing 🤩.“

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

“A lovely evening all around. Great service by young brother who was tending bar, showing folks to their tables, AND taking food orders. Despite small staff, experience was positive.... Yummy endive salad, short rib pasta, and excellent cocktails. Thank you.“

“I would describe De La Nonna as an elevated pizza restaurant. As with most pizza joints, they serve up beer, salad and pizza, but this not your standard fare.

Start off with a craft beer, wine, or a fancy cocktail (or mocktail). Lots of choices to be had.

For starters, we ordered the market salad which had a fantastically light tangerine(?) dressing. The dressing on the ceaser salad was a bit heavy, but it was still tasty.

The eggplant caponata appeared to have been lightly fried and coated in a sweet and savory sauce. Very good.

As for the pizzas, all were insanely good. Each was like a pillowy soft deep dish pizza and they all came with the best crispy edges.

IMO the roasted mushroom pizza was the best — and I'm not a fan of mushrooms.

Prices are a bit higher than you would find at a typical pizza place, but again, these are not your typical pizzas. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere, chill.

Dietary restrictions: They were able to accommodate customers with celiacs.“

“Where do I start. Liz and Maggie are amazing. They made my family feel like some type of celebrity. I can’t state in this short paragraph how blown away I was by the service we received. THE BEST SERVICE, I’VE EVER RECEIVED. The drinks were excellent and the food was so good. I recommend the wagyu meatballs. The dessert was so tasty. You really can’t go wrong with anything you order here. The piano bar is a musical nice touch. I really appreciated the attention to detail on the decor of the restaurant when it came to the music. I’m so very excited and satisfied with Osteria Florence and I can’t wait to comeback again. 10 stars ⭐️ thank you Francesco 🙏🏽❤️“

“This is a very popular place as it gets crowded even before normal dinner time. The semi-indoor/outdoor seating area is clean and relaxing.“

“Friendly Comfortable neighborhood spot“

“Try to stop by every time we stay in Glendale. Good food and very reasonable prices. Service is beyond excellent.“

“Great place and very welcoming staff. Food was delicious and very Italian. Highly recommended.“

“Great Food, Great Service...“

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

“We catered a Christmas dinner for 8 with Il Moro and all the food was delicious! We especially loved the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs, divine vegetables and pasta with olives dishes. We will definitely be back!“

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“My husband and I loved this place! The best Italian sandwiches we have had in a while. We even liked it better than the viral All’antico Vinaio. We also got the tiramisu at the end, and after going to Italy this past summer this was the closest and best to the real deal. Also got a latte and their coffee is also amazing. If you are in the area definitely give this place a try.“

“Why go 3000 miles away it’s just as good as Pat steaks and they got a roast pork sandwich too“

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!“

“Absolutely exceptional experience!
The food was exquisite, every dish felt thoughtfully crafted, beautifully presented, and bursting with authentic flavor. The service was attentive and professional without being intrusive; the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. The atmosphere is elegant yet comfortable, perfect for a special evening or simply celebrating good taste. Yes, it’s on the pricier side $100+ per person but completely worth it for the quality, creativity, and overall experience.“

“best pastas ever!!! And the tiramisu was fabulous“

“Our food was excellent! We had the Brussels sprouts, Pasta alla Norma, and the Cacio e Pepe. Great service, great food! Just a heads up that it’s very loud inside when it’s crowded. Fun, but not super conducive to conversation without speaking loudly.“

“I love the food and service at this restaurant.“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“Manager Josh is amazing. I had a bad experience dining at Ospi already in terms of service, so after there were missing items in my order I was about ready to give up. I called in and when he took the phone he didn't hesitate, asked me for my address and drove over the food himself. He also threw in a kale salad for me as well. I will be coming back. Ospi team, you have a good one in Josh!“

“Delicious food and friendly atmosphere.We had a great time.Thank you.🙏🤗😇😋“

“best pastas ever!!! And the tiramisu was fabulous“