Dan Tana's
Los Angeles, USA · No. 2 on the list
Red-check tablecloths and a bar that has heard everything.
Regulars: Al Pacino, Drew Barrymore · Order: Chicken parm, red booth, late
Celebrity Favorites · USA
Celebrity Italian Restaurants in LA
Where do celebrities eat Italian food in Los Angeles?
Dan Tana's, Giorgio Baldi, Il Pastaio, Nobu Malibu, Madeo and 4 more — 9 rooms in Los Angeles where the regulars are famous and the pasta earns it.
LA splits into two Italian scenes: the old-guard dark-wood rooms where deals get made quietly, and the sidewalk-and-paparazzi places where being seen is half the order. Larry's list covers both, from Santa Monica pasta counters to West Hollywood chicken parm under camera flash.
The 9 tables, in Larry’s order
| Restaurant | Known for | Order this |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Tana'sLos Angeles | Al Pacino, Drew Barrymore | Chicken parm, red booth, late |
| Giorgio BaldiSanta Monica | Taylor Swift, Rihanna | Handmade pasta with crab |
| Il PastaioBeverly Hills | Hollywood lunch crowd | Risotto with saffron |
| Nobu MalibuMalibu | Robert De Niro (co-founder) | Black cod, ocean view |
| MadeoLos Angeles | Old-guard Hollywood | Rigatoni with veal ragù |
| Craig'sWest Hollywood | Everyone TMZ is waiting for | Chicken parm, vegan option available |
| Jon & Vinny'sLos Angeles | LA's actor-brunch set | Spicy fusilli |
| Felix TrattoriaVenice, CA | West-side directors | Anything from the pasta window |
| Mother WolfLos Angeles | Music-industry tables | Roman pizza al taglio |
Larry’s notes, table by table
Giorgio Baldi
Santa Monica, USA · No. 4 on the list
Tiny room, paparazzi outside, pasta worth the circus.
Regulars: Taylor Swift, Rihanna · Order: Handmade pasta with crab
Il Pastaio
Beverly Hills, USA · No. 6 on the list
Sidewalk seats, deal-making at volume.
Regulars: Hollywood lunch crowd · Order: Risotto with saffron
Nobu Malibu
Malibu, USA · No. 22 on the list
Not Italian, but it's De Niro's, and Larry respects a founder.
Regulars: Robert De Niro (co-founder) · Order: Black cod, ocean view
Madeo
Los Angeles, USA · No. 23 on the list
Dark wood, discretion, no phones out.
Regulars: Old-guard Hollywood · Order: Rigatoni with veal ragù
Craig's
West Hollywood, USA · No. 24 on the list
Half restaurant, half red carpet.
Regulars: Everyone TMZ is waiting for · Order: Chicken parm, vegan option available
Jon & Vinny's
Los Angeles, USA · No. 25 on the list
Casual, loud, disproportionately good.
Regulars: LA's actor-brunch set · Order: Spicy fusilli
Felix Trattoria
Venice, CA, USA · No. 26 on the list
Watch the dough room. That's the whole show.
Regulars: West-side directors · Order: Anything from the pasta window
Mother Wolf
Los Angeles, USA · No. 27 on the list
Cinematic room, Roman heart.
Regulars: Music-industry tables · Order: Roman pizza al taglio
How to actually get a table in LA
Lunch is the celebrity meal in LA, not dinner. Book a patio table between noon and 2pm and you will see more than any evening reservation gets you.
Menus, owners and reputations change. Larry’s rule stands: call ahead.
Other cities on the list
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in NYC
16 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Rome
4 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Naples
3 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Capri & Amalfi
4 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Florence
2 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Venice
2 tables
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Chicago
2 tables
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Miami
2 tables
Or see all fifty on the Celebrity Favorites list.
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