Bestia — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Bestia, located in the Arts District of Los Angeles, is a culinary gem that continues to live up to its reputation as one of the city's top dining destinations. From the moment we arrived, the experience was exceptional, starting with the warm and efficient service provided by the hostess. Despite not having a reservation, we were seated within five minutes—a rare stroke of luck given how bustling the restaurant was. It’s a testament to Bestia’s popularity, and I would definitely recommend making a reservation to avoid the wait.

Antipasti: A Perfect Start We began our meal with a selection of antipasti, and I must say, Bestia truly excels in this department. The Salumi platter, featuring a mix of Italian and Spanish-style cured meats, was a standout. Paired with housemade pickles and mustard, each bite offered a burst of flavors—smoky, tangy, and perfectly balanced. The craftsmanship behind the cured meats was evident, and this dish alone is worth the visit. The antipasti offerings are a great way to start the meal, setting the tone for what’s to come.

Pizzas: Classic with a Twist The pizzas at Bestia are another highlight and come highly recommended. We tried the Margherita, with its classic combination of San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and sea salt. Simple yet perfect, the flavors were incredibly fresh, and the dough had just the right amount of chew and char. Best of all, $1 from every Margherita pizza goes to Alex's Lemonade Foundation for Childhood Cancer, adding a feel-good element to an already delicious dish.

The Burrata pizza was equally delightful, featuring San Marzano tomatoes, Castelvetrano olives, oregano, fermented chilies, and, of course, creamy burrata. The combination of flavors was both comforting and surprising, with the fermented chilies adding a unique, slightly spicy twist that elevated the entire dish. For anyone who loves pizza, Bestia’s offerings are a must-try.

Pasta: Buckwheat Tagliatelle The pasta at Bestia is where things get truly exceptional. The Buckwheat Tagliatelle was a revelation—perfectly cooked with an al dente texture that held up beautifully to the rich mushroom ragu. The dish was enhanced with fresh thyme, a sous vide egg that added a luxurious creaminess, fried basil for a bit of crunch, and a hint of chili oil that brought just the right amount of heat. The complexity of flavors and textures made this dish one of the standouts of the evening. It’s a must-order for any pasta lover visiting Bestia.

Main Course: Slow Roasted Lamb Neck The true star of our meal, however, was the Slow Roasted Lamb Neck. This dish was nothing short of spectacular. The lamb neck was slow-roasted to perfection, tender and falling off the bone with the slightest touch. It was served with a smoked anchovy crème fraîche, which added a subtle smoky and umami depth that perfectly complemented the rich flavor of the lamb. The gem lettuce and fresh herbs provided a refreshing contrast, balancing the richness of the dish. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavors that left us utterly satisfied. If there’s one dish you absolutely cannot miss at Bestia, it’s this one—it’s that delicious.

Wine and Dessert Bestia also offers a great selection of wines, carefully curated to complement the menu, with options available at reasonable prices. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply looking to enjoy a good glass with your meal, you’ll find something to suit your taste here. Though we were tempted by the fantastic dessert menu, we were too full to indulge further. That said, from what we saw and heard from other tables, the desserts are equally impressive and worth saving room for.

Overall, Bestia delivers on all fronts: incredible food, outstanding service, and a lively atmosphere that makes every visit memorable. With its expertly crafted dishes—from the antipasti and pizzas to the standout pasta and lamb neck—this restaurant is a must-visit for anyone in Los Angeles. The attention to detail and passion for quality ingredients are evident in every bite. Highly...

It’s not hard to see why Bestia is considered one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. Make reservations 1-2 months in advance.

Our server recommended 12 dishes for a party of 6, so that’s what we ordered and it was accurate. Expect to spend between $150-$200 per person if you’re getting drinks with dinner.

Unfortunately, our appetizers came way before the drinks, even though we ordered the drinks before our food.

Here are a things I recommend from each category. Note, the Burrata pizza ($24) was good, but not as flavorful as the other dishes.

ANTIPASTI:

The bone marrow is amazing, and it’s easy to see why it’s everyone’s number one dish. Roasted Marrow Bone ($24) with spinach gnocchetti, smoked breadcrumbs, aged balsamic. For me, this should have fallen in the pasta category but it was listed under appetizers, likely because it is a very small portion size. You’ll need 2-3 for a group of 6, it’s that good. I always love starting with crudo and cocktails. We started with the Peruvian Scallop Crudo ($26) - citrus, rosemary chili oil, cured cucumber, gaeta olives, mint, sesame. The scallop crudo has a kick to it, and although it normally comes with 4, he added a 5th for us for an extra $6.50. The Beef Tartare Crostino ($24) is very pleasant dry aged beef, tonnato, dill, chervil radishes, and it comes with a few slices of bread. The beef tartare is nice with the sauce below, and most definitely not as salty as others I’ve tried. The caesar salad is definitely a unique take and worth trying even if you’re not normally a Caesar fan. There was a green spread/sauce at the bottom that I’d never seen, and it felt healthy to have some green on the table. Herb Caesar Salad ($18) romaine, endive, parmigiano reggiano, black squid ink breadcrumbs, lemon zest. Mussels ($26) spicy 'nduja, scallions, fennel pollen, served with grilled bread. The sauce on the muscles is very spicy on its own, but the muscles themselves are great even if you have a low spice tolerance. You might need extra bread ($4) if sharing.

PASTE:

The Chestnut & Mushroom Agnolotti ($25) is a burst of flavor in your mouth with mascarpone; fried sage, fennel pollen. Each piece is full of savory, cheesy goodness; I just wish there was more of the crispy sage so you could enjoy it with every bite. Truffle lovers, unite! The Cavatelli alla Norcina ($49) comes to your table with an impressive amount of shaved black truffles on top of ricotta dumplings mixed with pork sausage and grana padano. I also loved the texture of the pasta! Strongly recommend this dish as well, even though it’s definitely on the pricier side for a pasta. I was really excited to try the Sourdough Quadretti ($26) because I’m a huge fan of lamb, but if I’m being honest wasn’t as special as I was expecting. They were more-so chunks than a ragu sauce. On the menu, it says it has lamb ragu, oregano, ricotta, breadcrumbs, brown butter, lemon zest. Still a good pasta, just manage your expectations if you’re a lamb lover. You could barely taste the saffron in the Saffron Gnocchi ($24) with tomato sugo, housemade buttermilk ricotta, basil, marjoram, and grana padano. While the gnocchi is good… it almost reminds me of chef boy are dee. Unless someone in your party is a picky eater or a child, you can pass on this one.

SECONDI

The 32 oz Wagyu Ribeye for $180 is a big decision, but a great pick for a large group to share. It comes with shaved turnips & mushrooms, fried sage, fermented black garlic & porcini cream. This is a fantastic cut of wagyu steak, and it really lives up to the buttery, juicy hype.

DOLCI

You need to order the Bar au Chocolat Bittersweet Chocolate Budino Tart ($16) for your dessert. The salted caramel was my favorite part, but it also comes on a cacao crust with olive oil and sea salt. Honestly, I would have just been happy with a bowl of that salted caramel, it was the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and that texture… magical. Note, even if it’s your birthday you do not get a complimentary...

Let me start by saying that the main issue we experienced during our visit was the behavior of the manager, which significantly impacted what was supposed to be a celebratory evening. We came to celebrate my sister’s birthday, and everything was going smoothly at first. The food was great, the ambiance was lovely, and our server was incredibly kind and attentive throughout the night. The issue arose with the manager, who never introduced himself and approached us with immediate attitude when a concern came up. For a party of five, we had ordered a variety of dishes, but the one we were most excited for was the pork chop. When you're paying $80 for a plate, there is an expectation of not only high-quality food but also respectful, professional service. Unfortunately, that was not what we received. We had ordered the pork chop along with the rest of our dishes, including gnocchi and ricotta, but it was the only dish that never arrived. We even ordered a second round of gnocchi, which was served before the pork chop we had ordered 40 minutes earlier. By that time, we were full and no longer wanted the pork chop. We politely asked for it to be removed from the bill. At that point, the manager came over and immediately took a defensive stance. He explained that the kitchen had delayed the pork chop to maintain the “flow” of the meal after we ordered the second gnocchi. Rather than offering a simple apology or understanding, he was rude, dismissive, and placed the blame on us. Despite our clear request, the pork chop was brought out anyway, packaged to-go, and we again asked to speak to the manager. He didn’t come right away. Instead, our server relayed the message while he ignored us for another 5–10 minutes. When he finally came to the table, he said, “I’m here now,” with a dismissive tone. At that point, we explained the situation again. His response? “So what can we do to fix this?” delivered with visible attitude. We calmly repeated our original request: remove the pork chop from the bill. He then snatched the bag off the table and returned shortly with the final bill. We made sure to express our appreciation to our server, who was excellent throughout. The disappointment lies solely in how the manager handled the situation, with zero accountability, unnecessary attitude, and no effort to de-escalate or make things right. What began as a lovely evening ended on a sour note due to poor management and unprofessional behavior. We hope this feedback is taken seriously, as no guest celebrating a special occasion should be...