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Best Business Lunch Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles

25 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

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Our Top Pick
Locanda Veneta
Refined Venetian classics and lasagna in a long-running 3rd Street institution.

Notable Picks

$$$ Beverly Grove Italian
Locanda Veneta is an old-school Venetian dining room where polished Northern Italian classics, including a deeply savory baked lasagna, have been drawing locals since 1988. White tablecloths, a serious wine list, and hands-on hospitality make it a go-to for celebratory pasta nights in Beverly Grove.
Must-Try Dishes: Classic meat lasagna al forno, Ossobuco con risotto allo zafferano, Wild mushroom risotto
What Makes it Special: Refined Venetian classics and lasagna in a long-running 3rd Street institution.
$$$ Downtown LA Italian
A polished Arts District trattoria where house-made pastas and wood-fired mains land with confident, old-school Italian technique. The airy industrial room keeps it lively without feeling chaotic, and the kitchen’s signature mandilli di seta pesto still sets the bar for the neighborhood. Strong Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition underscores its reliability for both locals and visitors.
Must-Try Dishes: Mandilli di Seta al Pesto, Prosciutto & Burrata Focaccina, Roasted Branzino
What Makes it Special: Silky house pastas and focaccinas in a Michelin-noted Arts District trattoria.
8.7
$$$ Sawtelle Italian
Il Moro has served polished Northern Italian fare since the mid-1990s, pairing housemade pastas and seafood with an extensive wine list. The shaded patio offers a more refined dog-friendly option on this stretch of Olympic, suited to business meals or quieter date nights with a pup in tow.
Must-Try Dishes: Housemade Tagliatelle, Risotto of the Day, Grilled Branzino
What Makes it Special: Longstanding Italian dining room with a quieter dog-friendly patio.
8.7
$$ Marina del Rey Italian
UOVO’s Marina del Rey outpost is a pasta-focused counter spot where Bologna-style egg pasta and lasagna are made from imported Italian dough and finished to order. Lines form for tightly edited classics, efficient service, and a price point that makes fresh, restaurant-quality lasagna feel like a regular weeknight option rather than a splurge.
Must-Try Dishes: Lasagna alla Bolognese, Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Tagliatelle al ragù
What Makes it Special: Counter-service pasta bar serving Bologna-style lasagna with imported fresh pasta.
$$ Pasadena Italian
Over 20 years of Drago Brothers excellence delivers seasonal Italian cuisine on a picturesque garden patio. The award-winning wine list and fresh seafood specialties make this a destination for special occasions and business dinners alike.
Must-Try Dishes: Florentine T-Bone Steak, Black and White Ravioli, Branzino al Sale
What Makes it Special: Drago Brothers' authentic regional specialties
$$$ Studio City Italian
Upscale modern Italian steakhouse specializing in land and sea pairings with housemade pastas, premium cuts, and fresh Mediterranean seafood. Restaurateur Stelian Tasu elevates his Pagliacci's heritage with white-toqued chefs in an open kitchen and sophisticated heated terrace dining.
Must-Try Dishes: Chilean Sea Bass, Swordfish, Housemade Rigatoni Bolognese
What Makes it Special: Elevated Italian seafood-steak concept in former Bellwether space with open kitchen
$$ Santa Monica Italian
Since 1990, brothers Mark and Anthony Mollica have served exceptional northern Italian home cooking in a buzzing dining room where strangers swap recommendations. The house-made burrata with heirloom tomatoes achieves perfection through simplicity, while Chef Mark's Sicilian family recipes deliver consistent quality year after year.
Must-Try Dishes: House-Made Burrata Salad, Rigatoni Bolognese, Fiore di Zucca Fritti
What Makes it Special: 35-year neighborhood institution with Sicilian family recipes and owners who create genuine community warmth
8.4
$$ Long Beach Italian
Fairmont Breakers' signature Italian restaurant features handmade pasta crafted by Executive Chef Giuseppe Musso and authentic Italian home cooking in an elegant coastal setting. The bright contemporary space balances refined elegance with warmth, making it suitable for both business lunches and family celebrations with accessible high chairs and accommodating service.
Must-Try Dishes: Carbonara, Ricotta Pancakes, Lobster Florentine Benedict
What Makes it Special: Hotel restaurant with executive chef expertise and coastal Italian authenticity
$$$ Santa Monica Italian
Celebrating 45 years, this family-owned establishment features Chef Ernesto's legendary Spaghetti Della Casa, often called the best pasta dish locals have tasted. Tuxedo-clad servers provide old-school formal service in a romantic setting with mood lighting and outdoor patio dining.
Must-Try Dishes: Spaghetti Della Casa, Tableside Caesar Salad, Gnocchi Sorrentina
What Makes it Special: Chef Ernesto's 30+ years cooking with love creates signature dishes like the famous Spaghetti Della Casa
8.3
$$ Beverly Grove Italian
Emilia Ristorante focuses on the rich cooking of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, with a turkey lasagna al forno and handmade pastas as standouts. The contemporary dining room and sidewalk seating make it a polished but relaxed option just off the Beverly Center corridor.
Must-Try Dishes: Lasagna di tacchino al forno, Pappardelle alla Bolognese, Ricotta and spinach ravioli
What Makes it Special: Regionally focused Emilia-Romagna cooking with a lighter, refined lasagna.
$$ Downtown LA Italian
A long-running DTLA trattoria focused on fresh daily pasta and generous, comforting plates that keep locals coming back. The open front patio and casual flow make it easy for repeat lunches or low-key dinners. Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition highlights strong value and dependable execution.
Must-Try Dishes: Bianchi & Neri, Lasagne di Carne, Maccheroni Stellari
What Makes it Special: Fresh pasta trattoria with Bib Gourmand value in the Historic Core.
$$ Westwood Pizza, Italian
Pomodoro Trattoria is a cozy neighborhood room where the Lasagna Classica anchors a menu of pastas, risotti, and veal plates. It’s a go-to for locals seeking hearty, saucy comfort food and a glass of wine without leaving the Westwood Boulevard strip.
Must-Try Dishes: Lasagna Classica, Gnocchi al Pesto, Polpette Della Casa
What Makes it Special: Casual trattoria known for generously portioned lasagna baked with béchamel and slow-cooked ragu.
8.2
$$$ West Hollywood Italian
A legendary West Hollywood institution since 1963, Dan Tana's serves classic Italian fare in a warmly nostalgic red-checkered tablecloth setting. The family-owned restaurant welcomes children and offers generous portions of traditional dishes like chicken parmigiana and homemade lasagna.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken Parmigiana, Homemade Lasagna, Nika's Caesar Salad
What Makes it Special: Over 60 years of Hollywood history with celebrity-named dishes and old-school charm
8.2
$$ Beverly Hills Italian, Pizza
This Italian institution brings authentic breakfast to Beverly Hills with house-made pastries, wood-fired breads, and traditional Italian breakfast fare. The aroma of fresh-baked focaccia and the skilled baristas pulling perfect espressos create a genuine Italian cafe experience.
Must-Try Dishes: Frittata Rustica, Cornetti alla Crema, Uova Benedict Italiano
What Makes it Special: Authentic Italian breakfast with house-made everything
$$$ Santa Monica Italian
Chef Andrea Inio grows herbs on-site for traditional recipes inspired by his Italian upbringing, creating a farm-to-table experience with housemade pasta. The second-floor patio offers a family-friendly atmosphere where Farmers Market ingredients meet authentic Italian techniques.
Must-Try Dishes: Mushroom Tower Appetizer, Tableside Prepared Pasta, Osso Buco
What Makes it Special: On-site herb garden enhancing every dish
$$$ Sherman Oaks Italian
The Drago Brothers bring Sicilian sophistication to the Valley through housemade pastas and whole Mediterranean fish preparations. White tablecloths and warm service create an elegant yet approachable setting for celebrating special occasions or enjoying a refined Italian meal.
Must-Try Dishes: Whole Branzino, Mushroom Ravioli, Ossobuco Alla Milanese
What Makes it Special: Part of the renowned Drago Brothers restaurant family since 2004
$$ Torrance Italian
Di Roma Cucina is a sit-down Italian spot on Hawthorne Boulevard known for generous portions and a full range of pastas, including a substantial lasagna Bolognese. The atmosphere is comfortable and low-key, drawing regulars who want a classic red-sauce dinner with table service.
Must-Try Dishes: Lasagna Bolognese, Lobster Ravioli, Chicken Parmigiana
What Makes it Special: Classic sit-down Italian with a hefty lasagna and sprawling pasta menu.

Worthy Picks

7.9
$$$ Beverly Hills Italian
Since 1992, this kosher Italian restaurant has been serving the Beverly Hills community with a diverse menu blending Mediterranean and even Asian fusion influences. The spacious Wilshire Room accommodates large family gatherings, while the main dining room offers an upscale yet comfortable atmosphere perfect for multi-generational dining experiences.
Must-Try Dishes: Rib Eye Steak with Peppercorn Sauce, House-Made Pasta Selections, Mediterranean Seafood Platter
What Makes it Special: One of Beverly Hills' premier kosher Italian restaurants
$$ Santa Monica Italian
Neighborhood Tuscan restaurant established in 1990 serving hearty portions of traditional Italian comfort food. Wood-fired oven from Tuscany produces excellent pizzas alongside their classic meat lasagna.
Must-Try Dishes: Traditional Meat Lasagna, Pollo Al Mattone, Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza
What Makes it Special: Authentic wood-fired oven handmade in Tuscany
$$$ Brentwood Italian
A 37-year Brentwood institution built on wood-fired Snake River Farms prime cuts and a Wine Spectator Award-winning Italian list—the kind of place where regulars have a steak named after a broadcast legend. The tight indoor dining room runs loud at peak hours, so request the patio for conversation-friendly date nights or opt for early weekday dinners when the room settles down.
Must-Try Dishes: The Al Michaels Prime New York Steak, Insalata Carciofi, Veal Chop with Butter and Sage
What Makes it Special: Brentwood's definitive Tuscan trattoria since 1989, pairing wood-fired prime cuts from Snake River Farms with a Wine Spectator Award-winning Italian wine list.
7.8
$$ Fairfax Italian
Inside the Original Farmers Market, Ettore Vino e Cucina blends a Mendocino organic winery with an Osteria Mamma–backed kitchen for a wine-first Italian experience. Signature pastas, braised lamb shank, and a curated list of Ettore wines make it a good choice when you want more of a tasting-room feel than a quick stall meal.
Must-Try Dishes: Ettore Tagliatelle ai Funghi, Stinco di Agnello con Patatine al Parmigiano, Gnocco Fritto with Stracciatella and Prosciutto
What Makes it Special: Wine-centric Italian restaurant and tasting room in the Farmers Market where organic Mendocino wines are built directly into the menu design.
$$ Beverly Grove Italian, Sandwiches
Carasau Pasta Bar is a counter-service Italian spot on 3rd where housemade pasta shares the menu with focaccia sandwiches layered with burrata, prosciutto, and grilled vegetables. It works as a casual lunch or early dinner stop when you want something more composed than a basic deli sub but still quick.
Must-Try Dishes: Burrata & Prosciutto Sandwich, Chicken Sandwich on focaccia, Veggie Sandwich with pesto
What Makes it Special: Housemade Italian sandwiches on fresh focaccia in a casual pasta bar setting.
7.7
$ Fairfax Italian
Mauro Cafe is a casual Italian cafe on Melrose serving pastas, salads, and all-day plates in a high-traffic indoor–outdoor setting. It functions as both a social meeting point and an approachable Italian lunch option. The menu emphasizes familiar comfort over technique.
Must-Try Dishes: Spaghetti pomodoro, Chicken Milanese, Market chopped salad
What Makes it Special: A fashion-adjacent Italian cafe ideal for casual meals and meetings.
7.7
$$ Downtown LA Italian
Savoca, inside the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE, serves Italian-influenced California cooking in a bright atrium space steps from Crypto.com Arena. Menus cover breakfast, brunch, and dinner, making it a convenient option for hotel guests and game-night crowds looking for pastas, pizzas, and a glass of wine.
Must-Try Dishes: Tagliatelle Bolognese, Prosciutto pizza, Eggs in Purgatory
What Makes it Special: Hotel trattoria with Italian-leaning menus and an airy atrium setting.
$$ Northridge Italian, Pizza
A SoCal Italian-American family chain that's held its Northridge spot for decades, built on big-plate comfort staples—baked ziti, chicken parm, garlic knots—that deliver the same reliable meal every visit. Free parking on both sides of the building makes it a low-friction weeknight default for families who want a sit-down dinner without the production.
Must-Try Dishes: Rosemary bread basket, Spaghetti and meatballs, Chicken piccata
What Makes it Special: Large, varied Italian menu anchored by house-made rosemary bread and reliable pasta execution.