Jon & Vinny's Studio City — Restaurant in Los Angeles

My out–of–town friend and I were seated somewhat quickly on a busy evening because we chose to sit at the bar. The bartender was friendly but exhibited the unacceptable habit of touching his hair, face, and mouth throughout the evening in plain sight of the entire restaurant and proceeded to mix drinks with whatever gunk transferred to his fingers. Jon & Vinny, where are your management skills? Do you train your managers in these basics? Manager, do you emphasize to your team that they are not at home throwing together something for themselves? Apparently not because any server should know that you do not touch your person when dealing with food and drink for the public. You have a crazy itch on your face? Do nothing. Worst case, back of wrist. Additionally, servers should not eat or drink in plain sight of guests. I observed plenty of that on this evening, as well. Remember, you are a cast member on stage. When trying to order, I was informed that the kitchen had run out of the pasta I chose. OK, I thought about a couple alternatives to order and was also offered a pasta of my choice used in one of the preparations, but after I bit of consternation I simply settled on another pasta dish. My friend's pasta came out first. Several minutes later my pasta appeared but we both looked at it and were confused. I asked the runner if it could possibly belong to another table. She also looked confused and walked away with it. The bartender seemed to be discussing my situation with someone else nearby (from the kitchen?). I asked if there was a problem and he came over and said he told me the pasta would be bucatini (or told me something to that effect). Bucatini?! I dislike bucatini and never eat or order it! So now is the bartender gaslighting me or confusing me with something he said to some other guest? My friend practically finished his pasta by the time what I had ordered finally appeared. Needless to say, a very disappointing (and not cheap) evening at Jon and Vinny's...

Jon & Vinny’s Studio City – My F.A.V.E. Review • Food – The menu offers a solid selection of Italian-inspired comfort food, with some standout dishes. The Tomato Caprese with Buffalo Mozzarella was unforgettable—simple yet packed with flavor. Every ingredient shined, especially the tomatoes, which tasted incredibly fresh. The Spaghetti Limone was light and refreshing, a perfect balance of citrus and creaminess. The Spicy Fusilli had a great kick, and the Corn Agnolotti stood out with its unique, slightly sweet richness. The Cornmeal-Covered Spring Onion wasn’t my favorite—the batter was a bit too thick for me (well, it is cornmeal, after all)—but the onion itself was beautifully sweet. The Sirloin Steak was fine but didn’t leave a lasting impression. As for desserts, they didn’t quite hit the mark for me—the cakes, cookies, and even the soft serve weren’t as remarkable as I had hoped. • Ambience – Cozy, minimalist, and welcoming. It’s a casual family dining spot that’s accommodating for everyone—kids, adults, and even different dietary preferences. The little details, like coloring papers for kids and gender-inclusive restrooms, show their thoughtfulness. • Value – Portion sizes were generous, and for the quality of the food, the prices felt reasonable. However, I found the desserts and soft serve a little pricey for what they offered. • Experience – The staff made the experience even better—warm, attentive, and always ready to assist with requests. Service was efficient yet never rushed. Special mention to my cousin Camille for picking out a great wine—I’m not a wine drinker, but I actually enjoyed my glass and finished it!

Overall, Jon & Vinny’s Studio City delivers on fresh, flavorful food in a relaxed and welcoming setting. A few dishes stood out as unforgettable, while others didn’t quite impress, but the experience as a whole made it a worthwhile visit. Would I come back? Definitely, but maybe I’d skip...

I rarely ever write reviews, and to be honest, I didn’t want to at first. Because the food is really good. However, my experience left me disappointed. From the moment we arrived, with reservations, no less we were greeted with hostility. We were told to move out of the way, which we understood, as we were near the doorway. Since it was our first time, we didn’t know there was seating available to wait, but the tone used was unnecessarily harsh. Still, we brushed it off and didn’t let it affect us.

When we asked for outside seating, we were told we’d need to be finished by 8:15. That was reasonable to us, as our reservation was at 7:15 and an hour felt more than enough. However, when our food arrived around 7:45, the pressure from the waiter began. While we were still eating with food on our plates, the server repeatedly asked if we were “good” or if he could clear things away. It felt rushed and unwelcoming, making it difficult to enjoy the meal. I even had to tell him, that I am still working on my food.

We weren’t planning on staying past 8:15 anyway, but being rushed through a meal when we still had half an hour left a bad impression. I understand it’s a small space and dinner rush can be hectic, and I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But feeling unwelcome and pressured to leave is not the kind of experience that makes you...