LA Hidden Gem 4.8🌟 Authentic Italian Cuisine 🍝🇮🇹

Bored at home over the weekend and suddenly craving Italian food, I searched Google Maps and found this spot in Duarte, a small city east of Arcadia. With 508 reviews and a 4.8/5 rating, I grabbed my partner and headed over right away! This restaurant focuses on traditional, authentic Italian dishes and handmade pasta and pizza. The owner, chef, and manager are all Italian—you can even visit their website to ask the owner to help plan a wedding or trip to Italy! 💍✈️ 🍞 Complimentary Bread $0 | 7.5/10🌟 I’d already eaten two pieces before remembering to take a photo! The bread wasn’t super crispy but had a nice chewiness. Paired with olive oil, it was flavorful. You can also try their dipping sauces. Solid, but nothing extraordinary. 🦞 Crab and Lobster Chowder $16 | 6.5/10🌟 The soup had lots of veggies like potatoes and carrots, but no real crab or lobster meat—just imitation crab sticks. The cheese flavor was very strong. Not a must-order. 🐙 Fried Calamari $17 | 8/10🌟 A staple at any Italian spot—theirs is excellent! Light, crispy coating, perfectly seasoned even without sauce. Highly recommend! 🍝 Alfredo Prosciutto Pappardelle $24+3 | 7.5/10🌟 Paid an extra $3 for handmade pappardelle (they have many handmade pasta options!). It had a nice chew, though a bit more firmness would’ve been ideal. The Alfredo sauce was thick and slightly heavy. The prosciutto was a bit too salty, which brought it down a notch. 🍄 Mushroom Risotto $27 | 8/10🌟 As soon as it arrived, the rich mushroom aroma was amazing! Loaded with porcini and shiitake mushrooms, and the rice was cooked perfectly—not too soft or underdone. Only downside: a bit too much wine made it slightly tangy. 🍕 Truffle Pizza $29 | 7/10🌟 Recommended by the staff, but I’d call it more of a cheesy mashed potato pizza than truffle pizza. Didn’t catch much truffle scent. Topped with lots of cheese and a layer of mashed potatoes. The crust wasn’t particularly crispy, but it was very filling—one slice was enough! 📍 1028 E Huntington Dr, Duarte, CA 91010 💬 What’s your favorite hidden gem Italian spot in LA? Share your recommendations below! 👇 💬 Tried handmade pasta recently? Which shape is your favorite? 🍴 #LA #LosAngeles #ItalianCuisine #Pasta #HandmadePasta #AuthenticItalian #HiddenGem #FoodReview #DuarteEats #ItalianRestaurant #TrufflePizza #Risotto #Calamari #FoodieFind #LocalEats