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Thursday, October 06, 2005

Why Osteria La Buca Rules!


Great Italian is hard to come by...hell, good Italian is hard to come by. I have several restaurants that come close in Los Angeles, Angelini Osteria comes to mind, but none come close to the brilliance of Osteria La Buca. (episode here)

Why do I say brilliant? Because they do nothing fancy at this small (about to become larger) Osteria owned and run by Italians. They concentrate on great, homemade pasta that kicks ass. Some of my favorites are the Trenette al Pesto and the Trenette Carbonara (the best Carbonara I have ever had). The sauces are light and simple in order to highlight the homemade pasta that melts in your mouth. La Buca also have great appetizers, including their fried calamari done Venice style that is to die for. Their ice tea is just delicious and although they have no liquor license, they allow you to bring your own and have no corkage fee. The desserts also rock...ohhhh, pana cotta. My one and only complaint is that their pizza is standard issue, which does not matter much to me since it seems silly not to order pasta in a place that has made homeade pasta an artform.

The restaurant is decorated with pictures from classic Italian movies and has great service. At lunch, there often is an Italian soccer game on the TV in the background. You really get the feeling that you are in Italy while dining at Osteria La Buca. And the prices are quite resonable (I have never understood the Italian restaurants that break the bank). If you live in Los Angeles and love Italian, you have to go to this place. Who knows, you may be going there often...I know I will. Four Smacks!

- JB


Osteria La Buca - 5210 1/2 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038 (323) 462-1900