Osteria Vera — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Finally decided to try this restaurant and what a great surprise!

The place is cozy, not that big with an open kitchen. You can see the chef and the team. There are some seats outside and few options at the bar.

There are various wine options and some spritz and beers. I have only tried a few things from the menu: the crispy brussels sprouts that I really enjoyed. For my entrée, I decide to go with their popular Cacio e pepe. They come to the table and start doing final preparation in the cheese. The pasta were delicious. Cooked perfectly. I truly enjoyed it. Saw some other plates that looked very good - like some of meat ones.

Other starters did look good and I will have to try it next time.

For the dessert, we got the lava cake and panacotta. It was great as well.

You might not see this place by just passing by, but I strongly recommend for you to try it if you are looking for a nice Italian spot. The whole team there was extremely kind and nice. They really make you feel welcome, and they take the time to come and chat with you, which is very enjoyable.

Thank you, and we...

🌟 A Culinary Gem Worth Discovering🌟

We visited this Italian restaurant for the first time and were absolutely blown away. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the open kitchen added a unique touch—watching the chefs prepare each dish right in front of us was both mesmerizing and reassuring. The transparency in their cooking process speaks volumes about their pride and integrity.

Now, the food… simply extraordinary.

I had a smoked eggplant dish layered with melted cheese and rich tomato sauce—it was heavenly, with a depth of flavor that lingered beautifully. Others in our group enjoyed a sizzling hot steak, pasta with incredibly fresh lobster, and branzino that was cooked to perfection—delicate, flavorful, and unforgettable.

To top it off, the chef surprised us with complimentary bites: crispy calamari paired with zucchini fries, and pillowy gnocchi smothered in a luscious cheese sauce. Every bite was a celebration of taste and texture.

This place is a true standout—authentic, generous, and passionately crafted. We’ll...

Good, but not great, and not quick to return. Service is excellent. Ambiance the usual noisy modern nouveau Italian vibe. Three starters…burrata and beets was terrific, Caesar salad just chopped, which is nice, but nothing special, and the third, a raw fish something my fellow diner ordered which was pretty flavorless. At the server’s suggestion, I went with the crusted sole, which @$44 should have been spectacular. After all, how can you ruin sole?! This heavy handed iteration which sounded plausible in its description…crust of thinly sliced potatoes and zucchini with cheese on top of the sole. Sole was good quality and thick under what turned out to be a burned rather blah top. Disappointing. Over broiled; perhaps if less burned maybe worthwhile, but even then, flavor nothing special. I know others really like this spot, so maybe my experience idiosyncratic, but so many great LA dining options, not running back...