There’s something incredibly comforting and nostalgic about a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs served on a red checkered tablecloth. While there’s no shortage of contemporary California Italian restaurants around town, red sauce Italian joints have a timelessness and charm that can’t easily be matched. Many of LA’s most beloved spots date back to the 1950s, though a new crop of Italian American arrivals are just as eager to keep the conversation going for a new generation of fans. Here are 17 spots around Los Angeles that dive deep into red sauce Italian delights.
Read More17 Old-School Red Sauce Italian Restaurants to Check Out in Los Angeles
Fried calamari, spaghetti and meatballs, rigatoni with vodka sauce, tiramisu, and so much more
Grandi Italiani
The family behind Grandi Italiani may be better known for its old-school spot Andre’s near the Grove (which moved from its original spot in 2017), but this Canoga Park option is no slouch. The restaurant gets busy during lunch and dinner hours where diners order the usual staples like spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, and chicken Parmesan.
Pinocchio Restaurant
Pinocchio’s is the kind of casual Italian American destination that doesn’t try too hard, which is why it’s been around for decades. Stop at the dedicated market before or after a meal that includes huge meatballs, spaghetti with red sauce, cannoli, a chopped salad, and fettuccine Alfredo.
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Tarantino's Pizzeria
Tarantino’s celebrated 40 years of operations in Pasadena in 2024. This cozy family-operated restaurant is a mile east of bustling Old Town where diners sit at long tables topped with checkered tablecloths and dive into made-to-order pizzas, garlic rolls, antipasto, pasta e fagioli soup, and hearty carbonara pasta.
Reno's Pizzeria & Restaurant
Reno’s is where to go for a whopping classic pizza topped with pepperoni or chicken Alfredo, antipasto, and shrimp scampi prepared using house-made pasta. The weekday lunch specials are served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are affordably priced under $14.
Colombo's Italian Steakhouse & Jazz Club
For 70 years, Colombo’s in Eagle Rock continues to check every old-school Italian box, with throwback photos of movie stars, white tablecloths, deep red leather booths, and a red sauce-heavy menu that doesn’t skimp on basics like chicken Parm, pasta, and meatballs. Fans of HBO Max’s Barry will also recognize the restaurant from Season 1, Episode 4.
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Jemma Hollywood
Jackson Kalb’s Hollywood eatery opened in October 2023 at the Aster Hotel serving classic Italian food. The menu features dishes from Kalb’s other SoCal restaurants, along with fresh pasta, sandwiches, pizzas, and pork osso bucco, among others. Be sure to order ranch, marinara, or vodka sauce dips for the pizza.
Jones
A car crashed into Jones Hollywood in late 2023, temporarily closing the nearly 30-year-old restaurant for three months. As of February 2024, Jones's busy bar and red sauce menu is back in business. One can get a platter of whole steamed artichoke, margherita pizza, or linguini with clams until 1 a.m. daily.
Rao's
Those who need a taste of New York can head straight to Rao’s in Hollywood. It’s not nearly as busy, exclusive, and loud as its sister restaurant, but the portion sizes are just as big with baked clams, fritto misto, shrimp scampi, and chicken Milanese. The bar is also a wonderful place to dine accompanied by a big martini.
Dan Tana's
One goes to Dan Tana’s for the vibes. It’s a feast for the old-school senses with slightly dusty wine bottles hanging from the ceiling, red-checkered tablecloths and red leather booths, sparkly lights, and a classic menu that’s executed well enough. This celebrity- and tourist-friendly spot can get downright packed over the weekends, so plan ahead.
Donna's
This Echo Park restaurant serves an East Coast Italian-style menu with veal piccata, spaghetti and meatballs with basil, and garlic bread heaped with grated cheese. The room feels retro, yet modern. Karla Flores-Mercado’s creative cocktails include a few Negroni, a handful of refreshing spritzes, and martinis, of course.
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Trattoria Daly
Trattoria Daly in Lincoln Heights serves a delicious and affordable menu with fried calamari, salads, Roman-style pizzas, fettuccini Alfredo, rigatoni amatriciana, and penne a la vodka on the crowd-pleasing menu.
La Dolce Vita
In 2023, the Beverly Hills Italian staple La Dolce Vita changed ownership for the third time in 50-plus years. The new crew knows this used to be Frank Sinatra’s spot, so they’ve reworked the space accordingly with burgundy leather booths, cheetah-printed carpets, and plaques showcasing the names of famous past patrons.
Maccheroni Republic
Downtown staple Maccheroni Republic is a casual and welcoming space with a long patio and a menu highlighting housemade pasta. Load up on salads, lasagna, and the bianchi e neri spaghetti with shrimp, mushrooms, and roasted pancetta in a creamy bisque sauce.
Vito
For almost five decades, Vito in Santa Monica has been serving old-school charm along Ocean Park Boulevard. The owners adhere to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” adage and offer plenty of pasta, veal Parmesan, and classic cocktails including a vesper, sidecar, and Sazerac.
Il Saggio
Don’t be deterred by Commerce’s Il Saggio’s dated dining room and spotty Instagram posts. Locals have long known that staff are friendly and the food is solid with manicotti and seafood pasta, especially the saucy chicken marsala.
Sunday Gravy
Sunday Gravy owners Sol and Ghazi Bashirian have deep roots in Inglewood, as their father operated Jino’s Pizza from the same space for decades. The siblings put together a cozy restaurant that successfully serves Italian American classics and more, including a signature short rib ragu, plus a weekends-only lasagna that always sells out.
Eatalian
Eatalian resides in an industrial portion of Gardena with a large warehouse-style dining room, open kitchens, and a bar. Though adjacent restaurants are mostly chains, this neighborhood spot caters to hardworking folks in the South Bay. Expect well-executed pasta like carbonara and thin-crust pizzas that please a crowd.