Il Bambino

The food was delicious!!! The spinach ravioli was very tasty. Service was pleasant and fast. The calamari was perfectly cooked. The place is small but definitely good. Perfect for lunch.

We were a little skeptical about going here based on the surrounding area but we decided to try it anyway. Obviously this is a small hole in the wall, casual place. And one of the best home in the wall restaurants ever. The service was friendly and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. My husband Davis the arriabiata sauce was one of the best he'd ever had and the bolognese was also excellent, served over fresh tagliatelle. They do not serve beer or wine but we saw a "regular" come with wine in hand and ask for glasses.

Exceptional service. Staff very attentive. The food was delicious. My only regret is not having stopped sooner. We will be back soon!

Though this place is located in a seethy, depressed area, we decided to visit anyhow. Boss Lady had the Fettuccine with Shrimp and I opted for a Pepperoni Pizza with fresh Garlic and Pineapple. The food was exceptionally good. This establishment looks to be owned & operated by a tight knit family unit and the cook (Owner's son, perhaps) put forth a phenomenal effort in preparing our meals. Many people order food to go, as well as delivery apps showing up for orders day & night. Seems that hundreds of A+ ratings both here and on Yelp! surely paint an accurate assessment as we can attest to their validity. 😋

I’ll be back. Handmade pasta was AMAZING. Don’t judge a book by its cover! I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo and loved it. Be sure to ask for Parmesan and the specials. Bread is great too.

I don’t care whether if I’m sitting in a fancy dining room, or on the side of the street, food is all it matters. Anyone who knows me well know I LOVE to eat. And il bambino has it all, the look, the smell, and the taste. Easily the best Italian food I’ve ever had. And I don’t say statements like this often. Fresh, homemade, and very friendly service.

They open during the Covid-19 quarantine time for take out only. They're very nice. They add a desert for my dinner order for free... The food is 4.5 stars. Service is 5 stars.

Deborah Shaw

While staying in LA for a long weekend, we wanted Italian food. A quick Google search found Il Bambino. It had good reviews and was only about ten minutes from our hotel. The restaurant is located in a run down area and you probably wouldn’t stop there if you were passing by. However, you have to remember, you’re in LA. If you can get past what the neighborhood looks like, you will find a gem of a place. Initially, we were the only people dining there. By the time we left, 4-5 more people arrived to dine. The place is small, but cute. Linen table cloths and just a few tables inside and outside. The menu had a good selection of appetizers, salads, main courses, pasta dishes, and desserts. We ordered calamari. It was fried, but not greasy. Fried strips of zucchini were included with the calamari. Served with lemon and a sauce that had just the right amount of spice. So good! We ordered lasagna and tagliatelle alla florentina. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! Portions were very generous too. I really wanted to try their flan as I heard it was delicious too, but we were too full from what we’d already eaten. The service was very good. The young woman who waited on us was very knowledgeable about the dishes. We will definitely be back next time we’re in the area.

Lisha Shaikh

Mom & pop style restaurant with food and service that’ll beat any michelin star! My favourite part about our experience here was the star server, Leo!! It’s a vibe in here. Amazing pizza and spinach ravioli 💛 We will be back :)

Jan Hefner

We found this new treasure by Googling restaurants near The Music Center, where we were coming from out of town and seeing a show. We struck gold! Il Bambino is in an unassuming building, but they serve amazing food in a clean, homey, and friendly space. Our party is still raving about our selections, and we are planning another trip in the near future! I cannot recommend it enough! Edit 3/8/25: Il Bambino has become a go-to favorite for us when we're visiting LA. Wonderful food and service! And great news! They will open a second location soon in Lincoln Heights! Can't wait!

Michael Schaefer

This is a little hole in the wall. You could look at it and pass by and never think of it again. That would be a HUGE mistake!!! Everything in here is made from scratch! The lasagna, spaghetti, and penne we ordered were all expressed as the best thing we’ve ever eaten! Their flan! Their flan!!!!!!!’ Oh my gosh their flan!!!! Best meal I’ve ever had and I will return one day soon I hope! Try this place! I promise you will not regret it.

Marlon Estrada

Came for dinner with the family, found street parking right away. The most unassuming place I've ever been, to but the food is heavenly. Dish after dish was a flavor explosion. High quality dining for an affordable price and quality customer service. Everything is fresh and i mean everything including the pasta which is made from scratch. And dessert was equally amazing. If there were more stars I'd give them a higher rating.

D.A. Horton

This quaint environment provides a great atmosphere for good conversation over a phenomenal meal. Our family was waited on quickly, received our drinks and bread shortly after putting in our drink order. Water and Soda comes in bottles and are opened by the staff upon arrival. The pizza crust was light and crispy. The cheese and pepperoni were cooked well and served hot and fresh. The Alfredo sauce was savory with depth and paired well with the thick noodles. The pasta was freshly made and it complimented the grilled chicken nicely. The chicken parmigiana consisted of three slices of grilled chicken, covered by a plethora of homemade sauce nestled under an evenly layer of baked cheese. The vegetables were seasoned and cooked well and the mashed potatoes were smooth and flavorful. Definitely recommend!

vadym sergeiev

This restaurant is a hidden Italian gem. Aside from the general menu, there are delicious dishes with truffles. We loved the seafood pasta with black truffle served inside a huge cheese wheel (it is a bit spicy, so be prepared). The salad was also good. And the panna cotta was divine.

Edee Lo

Amazing Cecilian Italian food all made from scratch and the most authentic taste I have ever tried!❤️💯👍🙏 Chef Gaudel knows his craft to the T! Location is central in DTLA. Owner very flexible with hours and caters to your desire. If you want to Impress a foodie THIS IS THE PLACE. The cheese options here are the finest including the white truffle ❤️❤️💯 Owned and operated by Latinos with serious mastery in Italian gastronomy. Has cooked for an endless list of A List celebrities and is a discreet gem. Street parking only. Make reservations. Be ready to be pampered ❤️ Family operated. Guaranteed by me. 💯 Catering available. Delivery available. #foodie

Maria Sandoval

The food was delicious!!! The spinach ravioli was very tasty. Service was pleasant and fast. The calamari was perfectly cooked. The place is small but definitely good. Perfect for lunch.

Shannon Jones

We were a little skeptical about going here based on the surrounding area but we decided to try it anyway. Obviously this is a small hole in the wall, casual place. And one of the best home in the wall restaurants ever. The service was friendly and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. My husband Davis the arriabiata sauce was one of the best he'd ever had and the bolognese was also excellent, served over fresh tagliatelle. They do not serve beer or wine but we saw a "regular" come with wine in hand and ask for glasses.

Linda Lopez

Exceptional service. Staff very attentive. The food was delicious. My only regret is not having stopped sooner. We will be back soon!

Trênt Der Zerstörer

Though this place is located in a seethy, depressed area, we decided to visit anyhow. Boss Lady had the Fettuccine with Shrimp and I opted for a Pepperoni Pizza with fresh Garlic and Pineapple. The food was exceptionally good. This establishment looks to be owned & operated by a tight knit family unit and the cook (Owner's son, perhaps) put forth a phenomenal effort in preparing our meals. Many people order food to go, as well as delivery apps showing up for orders day & night. Seems that hundreds of A+ ratings both here and on Yelp! surely paint an accurate assessment as we can attest to their validity. 😋

Elodia Martin

I’ll be back. Handmade pasta was AMAZING. Don’t judge a book by its cover! I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo and loved it. Be sure to ask for Parmesan and the specials. Bread is great too.

Kevin Li

I don’t care whether if I’m sitting in a fancy dining room, or on the side of the street, food is all it matters. Anyone who knows me well know I LOVE to eat. And il bambino has it all, the look, the smell, and the taste. Easily the best Italian food I’ve ever had. And I don’t say statements like this often. Fresh, homemade, and very friendly service.

The T Entertainment

They open during the Covid-19 quarantine time for take out only. They're very nice. They add a desert for my dinner order for free... The food is 4.5 stars. Service is 5 stars.

Tiffany Scott-Clemente

I have driven past this place a thousand times, wanting to stop and try it. Today was the day, it was Delicious and the very defintion of a "hole in the wall joint". I am a girl who likes good "hole in the wall" eateries and joints. The lasagna bolognese melted in my mouth. I will be back and bring my friends!

Edward T Lee

Small unassuming corner Italian restaurant in central dtla. Started with Burrata Crostini with Prosciutto di Parma. Follow back Lobster Ravioli. All excellent tasting & beautifully presented. Ivan tended to our needs. You can see Miguel & Angel working the kitchen. Normal seating setup for 26 guests.

First time there ......Food is good. Fast service and great costumer service. Place is clean .only needs some good music .but everything is perfect. Parking is a lil hard but other than tht .Will go back again 🙏

Wow, must try! The food and service were amazing! This restaurant is in a somewhat scary area, but the service was like a five star restaurant and the free street parking directly in front alleviated my concerns. We ordered the burrata with prosciutto as an appetizer and it was fantastic!! I also loved the bread basket that was complimentary with garlic toast. We got wine, pizza, spinach salad, lentil soup, spinach ravioli, scallopini with lemon caper sauce, and the panna cotta. Everything was delicious! The only dish I didn’t love was the pasta carbonara, which maybe was my fault for substituting. I will absolutely return for the scallopini (had incredible vegetables sautéed in butter and garlic plus mashed potatoes), burrata with prosciutto, and panna cotta. The price was extremely reasonable too considering how much we ordered.

Christina Tafoya

Wow, must try! The food and service were amazing! This restaurant is in a somewhat scary area, but the service was like a five star restaurant and the free street parking directly in front alleviated my concerns. We ordered the burrata with prosciutto as an appetizer and it was fantastic!! I also loved the bread basket that was complimentary with garlic toast. We got wine, pizza, spinach salad, lentil soup, spinach ravioli, scallopini with lemon caper sauce, and the panna cotta. Everything was delicious! The only dish I didn’t love was the pasta carbonara, which maybe was my fault for substituting. I will absolutely return for the scallopini (had incredible vegetables sautéed in butter and garlic plus mashed potatoes), burrata with prosciutto, and panna cotta. The price was extremely reasonable too considering how much we ordered.

Chelsea Johnson

The SALMON!!!! OMG AND THE MR LUPE SOUP!!!! you wouldnt expect a fine dining restaurant to be in this area which is why such a small but high end restaurant such as this is part of why LA is so awesome , inclusive and eclectic:)

We asked for water and was charged $8 for bottled water without any notification this would be an extra charge. Starting off rough. The table bread was burnt, the AC barely worked, the calamari was bland, the tagliatelle didn't have enough chicken and the carbonara was too salty. It was located in a bad area and the inside was run down. I knew this ahead of time, but in Los Angeles that usually means the food is excellent. This place was an exception. Seating was cramped. They also had a giant half of a parmesan wheel on display under their soccer game (that stopped working multiple times during our visit) within 2 feet of our table (and 2 other tables). No covering, no sneeze guards, just chilling there exposed. I asked if it was decoration, because surely that's not meant to be eaten if it's stored like that. They told me no, I can order a pasta mixed in it for $90. No thanks.

David Truong

We asked for water and was charged $8 for bottled water without any notification this would be an extra charge. Starting off rough. The table bread was burnt, the AC barely worked, the calamari was bland, the tagliatelle didn't have enough chicken and the carbonara was too salty. It was located in a bad area and the inside was run down. I knew this ahead of time, but in Los Angeles that usually means the food is excellent. This place was an exception. Seating was cramped. They also had a giant half of a parmesan wheel on display under their soccer game (that stopped working multiple times during our visit) within 2 feet of our table (and 2 other tables). No covering, no sneeze guards, just chilling there exposed. I asked if it was decoration, because surely that's not meant to be eaten if it's stored like that. They told me no, I can order a pasta mixed in it for $90. No thanks.