Maccheroni Republic

Great service- 5 starsIndoors is small and tables are close together but comfortable. Value- 5 starsLasagne- 4 starsBigoli Nonna- 5+ stars FANTASTIC!Garlic bread- 5 starsRegular bread- 3 stars

Third time here and every time I go I'm reminded why I love this place. The texture of the pasta is other worldly and nothing like I've ever had before: it's delicate, yet chewy and is the perfect vessel for any sauce.Please do yourself a favor and get the Ravioli Di Zucca (pumpkin truffle ravioli)! It's rich, savory, sweet, and with the hint of truffle, it's seriously amazing. I can taste in color after having just one bite!!Service was quick and our food came in hot just how I like it. More cheese? Yes pls. We absolutely killed three plates of pasta as if we were running a marathon the next day. And when you're done grab a donut across the street from the Donut Man and walk off the carbs around grand central market!!

This is hands down the best Italian meal I've had in Los Angeles since moving here in 2016. I feel bad for every restaurant I review after this, especially the Italian ones because this will be such a tough act to follow. My friend and I did the Dine LA menu. First off, amazing options, it was so hard to pick but we started with the Carpaccio and the Burrata. That cheese was so darn good and the tomatoes were packed with flavor. We ended up making little sandwiches with the beef, the bread, and the burrata (yay alliteration!) And they were so good. Everything was so fresh, we cleaned the plate. Main course we chose spaghetti Bottarga which is just spaghetti with garlic, oil, and pieces of white fish chopped throughout. We also shared the roasted pork risotto (actual name is long, check the menu). The flavors here were impeccable, well seasoned but not overly salted. The pork was fall off the bone. The risotto was the ideal texture and consistency, perfectly cooked and flavorful. The fish was fresh and not "fishy" in that way that overpowers the dish. The pasta was perfectly cooked. Everything tasted fantastic and complimented the accompaniments well. I didn't think the dinner could get any better but then came dessert. We had the Panna cotta and the cannoli. The Panna cotta was light and sweet, but not too much. It was absolutely delicious....BUT THAT CANNOLI?!? HOLY WOW. What an experience? Spectacular...give me 14! Perfect size, and the taste was off the charts. What a way to end. I'm going to have dreams about that cannoli. Sorry I'm gushing.All in all, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Flavors were on point. Definitely left an impression. We also had drinks and honestly, the online menu doesn't do them justice with the photos. They tasted delicious - an aperol spritz and a passione l'amaro - great sizes for the price tag. Fabulous service, next course was ready soon after we cleared our previous plates (and we did clear them) and our server was charming, had a great sense of humor and checked in on us several times. We sat outside which was lovely. Inside looked a bit cozy but outside was spacious and the heatlamps weren't overpowering. Great experience. Okay, this was a novel but it was truly a phenomenal dining experience (I'm out of adjectives). I feel like Maccheroni did what restaurants that participate in Dine LA should do, which is put the items they do extremely well on this menu so people are forced to eat their best. And if this wasn't their best, I can't wait to go back. I wish I had a 6th star.

Was pretty good for the price. Waited an hour after waiting in line for about 15 minutes on Valentines to get seated, got a table right next to another table of 2. Service was good, enjoyed the ambiance and nature around. I love garlic, so the amount of garlic on the bread was great to me, flavor was very strong. Special pasta (first one on menu) was actually pretty good, very rich. The cacio was good as well, felt it was a little under seasoned and chicken was cooked alright, nothing too special for me. For $20ish pasta, felt right. Decent spot overall, probably wouldn't wait that long

If you were to ask me about my favorite spot for pasta, I would instantly recommend Maccheroni Republic. Every dish is chef's kiss, and the service is always inviting. My go-to order is the Bigoli della Nonna, which I can't resist getting every time. The wine selection is also reasonably priced. While they don't take reservations, the wait is definitely worthwhile, especially since the restaurant is conveniently located right across from Grand Central Market--perfect for browsing while you wait! Note: you can even buy their fresh pasta to cook at home.

Came here at the recommendation of a friend and it was fantastic! The outside is pretty unassuming and easy to miss but the inside has that dark wooden cozy restaurant vibes. Service was lovely and welcoming. I went with the signature Bianchi and Neri. The dual colored pasta is fun and perfectly al dente. The shrimps were plump and fresh, and the sauce was creamy and rich. Pretty good portion.. I had to stuff myself full to finish it. My friend went with one of the specials - the Fusilli con Spanish octopus. I tried a bite and it was also perfectly cooked and the octopus was soft, not too chewy. If you're looking for Italian in downtown, I'd recommend checking this out!

Small, adorable restaurant near grand central in La, Maccheroni Republic has all the makings of an amazing restaurant, but just doesn't quite hit it for me. Let's start with the positives. The staff is very friendly, the ambiance is beautiful. They have a very small inside, but a decent sized patio. There are heaters so even on a cold night the patio stays open. You're surrounded by shrubbery which shields you from the outside world. Based on ambiance, it'd be a great date spot. Now for the not so positives. Parking is either street or garage. There is a garage right next door, but it can get expensive. They do offer a validation which knocks a few dollars off. This restaurant does not accept reservations and because it's small the wait can get long. Fortunately, we came around 5-6 on a Friday and were able to get seated right away for the patio. The inside had a small wait, but it was only about ten minutes. Luckily, if there is a wait you can wander over to grand central and peruse the selections there while you wait. The drinks were tasty and refreshing. We went with cocktails but there is a large selection of wines. The food was just okay. We started with calamari and salad. The calamari was fried well and the dip was tasty. Not overly salty. The salad was fine. Standard arugula salad with endive. The pastas were a let down. They were cooked al dente but weren't a home run. We ended with the tiramisu which was delicious especially paired with a cappuccino. All in all the meal was fine the ambiance was great but I'd likely not return.

My friends and I waited almost 2 hours for a table. Conveniently, grand central market is across the way so we got a pre-dinner snack. We ordered the bruschetta, salad, and 3 pasta dishes. The bruschetta was so basic and not worth. The bread was hard and the tomatoes lacked flavor. The salad was also just ok. As for the pasta dishes, I liked the pasta itself as it was cooked to al dente. The chewiness of the noodle indicated its freshness which I appreciated. However, the pasta dishes were soo salty. It seemed as if they salted the pasta water a little too heavily or something. It was pretty busy so maybe they just had an off night? Service wasn't terrible. The staff is overall friendly. Parking is in the structure next to the restaurant. They will validate the parking ticket so make sure to bring it with you. It takes off like $5 or so

This place was so delicious and I enjoyed every part of the meal! I came with my friends and ordered the Bianchi & Neri, which is their signature dish, the Papperdelle al Cinchiale, and the Rigatoni Pon'amore. For starters, we had the fried calamari and drinks. Their cocktails were all so delicious and I would highly recommend! My favorite was the Bianchi & Neri and loved the mushroom bits in it. We had to wait a little over an hour to get seated so I would recommend coming early to place your name down. They do not take reservations and it is first come first serve. There is a public parking right next to the restaurant but I do not think they valet and it cost $20. Pricey but also LA prices. There is also a bar across the street with pretty affordable drinks so that was a nice place to wait for our spot. Overall everything was amazing and I would def want to come back again!

Such a quaint spot with lively energy that feels like you're sitting in a café. The food was amazing and the service matched. When I looked around, everybody was loving their dishes.